Shloka 8
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
पुरा शक्रस्य यजत: सर्व ऊचुर्महर्षय: । ऋतचिविक्षु कर्मव्यग्रेषु वितते यज्ञकर्मणि
vaiśampāyana uvāca | purā śakrasya yajataḥ sarva ūcur maharṣayaḥ | ṛtvikṣu karmavyagreṣu vitate yajñakarmaṇi, rājan |
毗舍波耶那说道：“噢，大王，古时当释迦（因陀罗）举行祭祀之际，仪式宏阔铺陈，诸大圣仙皆有所陈。诸祭官各守其职，专注于分内之业，祭事广布而有条不紊。及至为仪轨缚系群兽之时，圣仙们对那些生灵便生起深切的悲悯。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a grand Vedic sacrifice as a setting where dharma is not merely procedural; the sages’ speech and later compassion toward bound animals highlight ethical reflection within ritual action.
Vaiśampāyana recounts an ancient episode: Indra is conducting an elaborate sacrifice; seers and priests are actively performing their roles, and the story is poised to turn at the moment when animals are to be bound for the rite, prompting the sages’ concern.