Shloka 25
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
सहितो योधमुख्यैश्न मन्सत्रिभिश्न सुसंवृत: । ततो<भ्यहन् मृगांस्तत्र सुबहूनाश्रमं प्रति,ब्रह्म! इसी समय राजा अपने मन्त्रियों तथा प्रधान योद्धाओंके साथ शिकार खेलनेके लिये निकले। उन्होंने एक ऋषिके आश्रमके निकट बहुत-से हिंसक पशुओंका वध किया
sahito yodhamukhyaiś ca mantribhiś ca susaṃvṛtaḥ | tato 'bhyahan mṛgāṃs tatra subahūn āśramaṃ prati, brahman |
ప్రధాన యోధులతో కూడి, మంత్రులచే చుట్టుముట్టబడి రాజు మృగయకు బయలుదేరాడు. ఆపై ఆశ్రమ సమీపంలో అక్కడ అనేక మృగాలను వధించాడు.
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical contrast: royal power and the pastime of hunting are shown occurring near an ascetic hermitage, a space associated with restraint and non-violence. By narrating this proximity, the text invites reflection on dharma—how actions acceptable in one role (kṣatriya life) can become questionable when they disturb or disregard sacred/ascetic domains.
A king, escorted by ministers and elite warriors, goes out hunting and kills many wild animals near a sage’s hermitage. The speaker (the hunter/vyādha) recounts this to a Brahmin interlocutor, preparing the ground for a discussion of right conduct and consequences.