Shloka 1

Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse

Devanagari script

ऑपनआक्रात बछ। 2 एकसप्ततितमो<्ध्याय: भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण और उनके साथियोंद्वारा पाण्डवोंका स्वागत

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | tān samīpagatān śrutvā pāṇḍavān śatrukarśanaḥ | vāsudevaḥ sahāmātyaḥ prayayau sasuhṛdgaṇaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“阇那弥阇耶啊，听闻般度五子已近在咫尺，婆苏提婆——克里希那，降伏仇敌者——便与群臣同往，友伴环绕，出发前去相迎。”

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समीपगतान्: having come near
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीपगत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Active

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शत्रुकर्शनः: crusher of enemies
• शत्रुकर्शनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुकर्शन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• वासुदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• अमात्यैः: with ministers
• अमात्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रययौ: went forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स: he
• स: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुहृद्गणैः: with groups of friends
• सुहृद्गणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्गण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma after conflict is sustained through right relationships: honoring allies, offering respectful reception, and providing wise counsel. Kṛṣṇa’s prompt, dignified response models leadership grounded in loyalty and responsibility rather than triumphalism.

What is happening in the narrative?

News reaches Kṛṣṇa that the Pāṇḍavas have arrived nearby. He immediately goes out to meet them, accompanied by ministers and friends, setting the stage for their welcome and for subsequent guidance regarding the forthcoming Aśvamedha sacrifice.