Shloka 8

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

उपस्थितश्न॒ कालोडयमभितो वर्तते हय: । माघी च पौर्णमासीयं मास: शेषो वृकोदर,“वृकोदर! इधर यज्ञ आरम्भ करनेका समय भी निकट आ गया है। घोड़ा भी पास ही है। यह माघ-मासकी पूर्णिमा आ रही है, अब बीचमें केवल फाल्गुनका एक मास शेष है

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | upasthitaḥ kālo 'yam abhito vartate hayaḥ | māghī ca paurṇamāsīyaṃ māsaḥ śeṣo vṛkodara ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi Vṛkodara, thời hạn đã định nay đã gần kề, và con ngựa tế lễ cũng ở ngay đây. Ngày rằm tháng Māgha đang đến; chỉ còn lại một tháng nữa.” Trong mạch truyện, lời ấy thúc giục hành động đúng lúc và có kỷ luật cho lễ Aśvamedha—một nghi lễ nhằm khôi phục trật tự và tính chính danh sau chiến tranh, nhấn mạnh sự sẵn sàng, việc tuân thủ thời điểm nghi lễ, và trách nhiệm đối với dharma.

Word by Word

• उपस्थितः: present, arrived, near
• उपस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित (उप-स्था + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभितः: around, on all sides
• अभितः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः

• वर्तते: is, exists, proceeds
• वर्तते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• हयः: horse
• हयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माघी: belonging to Māgha (month)
• माघी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माघी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पौर्णमासीयम्: full-moon (day), pertaining to Paurṇamāsī
• पौर्णमासीयम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर्णमासीय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मासः: month
• मासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शेषः: remaining
• शेषः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृकोदर: O Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• haya (the Aśvamedha horse)
• Māgha (month)
• Paurṇamāsī (full-moon observance)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kāla (right timing) and preparedness: dharmic action—especially public, legitimizing rites like the Aśvamedha—should be undertaken with attentiveness to auspicious time, proper resources (the horse), and disciplined readiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana informs Vṛkodara (Bhīma) that the time for beginning the Aśvamedha is near: the sacrificial horse is close by, the Māgha full moon is approaching, and only one month remains before the intended commencement.