Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure
युधिष्ठिरसमीपे तु कथान्ते मधुसूदन: । अर्जुनं कथयामास बहुसंग्रामकर्षितम्
yudhiṣṭhira-samīpe tu kathānte madhusūdanaḥ | arjunaṃ kathayāmāsa bahu-saṅgrāma-karśitam ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Quando a conversa chegou ao fim, Madhusūdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), sentado perto de Yudhiṣṭhira, falou sobre Arjuna—como ele fora consumido e enfraquecido por enfrentar muitas batalhas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Even the greatest heroes are subject to exhaustion and decline after prolonged violence; recognizing human limits is part of dharma, prompting rulers and elders to respond with care rather than mere expectation of endless martial strength.
After a discussion, Kṛṣṇa—sitting close to Yudhiṣṭhira—brings up Arjuna’s condition, noting that repeated warfare has left him worn down, setting a reflective tone on the costs of the recent conflicts.