Shloka 10

Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure

Devanagari script

समीपे च महाबाहुमाचष्ट च मम प्रभो । कुरु कार्याणि कौन्तेय हयमेधार्थसिद्धये,'प्रभो! उसने यह भी बताया है कि महाबाहु अर्जुन अब निकट आ गये हैं। अतः कुन्तीनन्दन! अब आप अभश्वमेधयज्ञकी सिद्धिके लिये आवश्यक कार्य आरम्भ कर दीजिये”

Transliteration

samīpe ca mahābāhum ācakṣṭa ca mama prabho | kuru kāryāṇi kaunteya hayamedhārthasiddhaye ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—அவன் மேலும், ‘என் ஆண்டவனே! மகாபாகுவான அர்ஜுனன் இப்போது அருகில் வந்துவிட்டான்’ என்று தெரிவித்தான். ஆகவே, குந்தியின் மகனே, அசுவமேத யாகத்தின் நிறைவேற்றத்திற்குத் தேவையான ஏற்பாடுகளைத் தொடங்கு.

Word by Word

समीपेnear, in proximity

चand

महाबाहुम्the mighty-armed (one)

आचष्टtold, reported

चalso/and

ममof me, my

प्रभोO lord

कुरुdo, perform

कार्याणिtasks, things to be done

कौन्तेयO son of Kunti

हयमेधार्थसिद्धयेfor the accomplishment of the purpose of the horse-sacrifice

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Yudhiṣṭhira (Kaunteya)

Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes timely performance of one’s royal and ritual duties: when the needed support (Arjuna’s presence) is secured, the king should proceed with the required actions to complete a dharmic undertaking (the Aśvamedha) successfully.

What is happening in the narrative?

A messenger/report informs the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) that Arjuna has come close/returned nearby; consequently, Yudhiṣṭhira is urged to commence the necessary arrangements to bring the Aśvamedha sacrifice to its intended completion.