Shloka 9
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
अश्रमेधे हयं मेध्यमुत्सूष्टं रक्षिभि्वृतम् । पितुर्मे यज्ञविघ्नार्थमहरत् पापनिश्चय:,“मेरे पिताजी अश्वमेधयज्ञकी दीक्षा ले चुके थे। उसमें रक्षकोंसे घिरा हुआ पवित्र अश्व छोड़ा गया था। इस पापपूर्ण विचारवाले दुष्टात्माने पिताजीके यज्ञमें विघ्न डालनेके लिये उस अश्वको भी चुरा लिया था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: aśvamedhe hayaṃ medhyam utsṛṣṭaṃ rakṣibhir vṛtam | pitur me yajñavighnārtham aharat pāpaniścayaḥ ||
毗舍波耶那说：“我父亲举行马祭（Aśvamedha）时，放出一匹已受祝圣的圣马，四周有卫士护守。然而那心怀罪念的恶人，为了阻挠我父亲的祭祀，竟将那匹马盗走。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deliberately obstructing a sacred duty (yajña) is portrayed as a grave ethical failing: the verse marks the thief as pāpaniścaya—one firmly resolved on wrongdoing—highlighting that intent (niścaya) intensifies moral culpability.
During the performance of an Aśvamedha, the consecrated horse—ritually released and guarded—gets stolen by a malicious person specifically to disrupt the speaker’s father’s sacrifice.