Śakuntalā’s Satya-Discourse and the Recognition of Bharata (शकुन्तला–सत्योपदेशः; भरतप्रतिग्रहः)
वनं जगाम गहनं हयनागशतैर्वृत: । बलेन चतुरज्जेण वृत: परमवल्गुना
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vanaṃ jagāma gahanaṃ hayanāgaśatair vṛtaḥ | balena caturajjeṇa vṛtaḥ paramavalgunā ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—ایک بار مہاباہو راجا دُشیَنت نہایت حسین چتورنگی لشکر کے ساتھ، سینکڑوں ہاتھیوں اور گھوڑوں سے گھِرا ہوا، گھنے جنگل کی طرف روانہ ہوا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse foregrounds rājanīti (royal conduct): a king’s strength is shown as organized, restrained power—moving with a well-ordered fourfold army—setting an ethical frame that authority should be disciplined and purposeful, not chaotic.
The narrator describes a king proceeding into a dense forest, surrounded by many horses and elephants and escorted by a splendid fourfold army, establishing the scene for events that will unfold in the forest setting.