Shloka 1
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Procession, Encampment (Niveśa), and Auspicious Timing for Ritual Action
ऑपन--मा_जल बछ। अकाल त्रेषष्टितमो<् ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरका अपने भाइयोंके साथ परामर्श करके सबको साथ ले धन ले आनेके लिये प्रस्थान करना जनमेजय उवाच श्रुत्वैतद् वचन ब्रह्मन् व्यासेनोक्त महात्मना | अश्वमेधं प्रति तदा कि भूय: प्रचकार ह
Janamejaya uvāca | śrutvaitad vacanaṁ brahman vyāsenoktaṁ mahātmanā | aśvamedhaṁ prati tadā kiṁ bhūyaḥ pracakāra ha |
Wika ni Janamejaya: “O Brahmin, nang marinig ang pahayag na ito na sinabi ng dakilang-loob na si Vyāsa, ano ang ginawa pa ni Haring Yudhiṣṭhira hinggil sa paghahandog na Aśvamedha? At paano niya nakuha ang kayamanang minsang iniwan ni Haring Marutta sa ibabaw ng lupa? O pinakadakila sa mga dalawang-beses-isinilang, isalaysay mo sa akin ang lahat ng ito.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds responsible kingship: major rites like the Aśvamedha require proper counsel and resources, and the narrative frames wealth (treasure) as something to be rightly obtained and directed toward dharmic purposes rather than personal indulgence.
Janamejaya, hearing that Vyāsa has advised Yudhiṣṭhira, asks the narrator to continue: what steps Yudhiṣṭhira took next for the Aśvamedha and how he secured Marutta’s famed treasure left on earth, setting up the next episode of preparation and procurement.