Shloka 2
Aśmagīta: Janaka’s Inquiry on Loss, Kāla, and the Limits of Control (अश्मगीता)
Devanagari script
व्यास उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । अश्मगीतं नरव्याप्र तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर
Transliteration
vyāsa uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | aśmagītaṁ nara-vyāghra tan nibodha yudhiṣṭhira ||
Translation
毗耶娑说道：“坚战啊，人中之虎，此事亦有古例可援，学者常引为证。且听我讲述那被称作《阿湿摩之歌》的古老故事。”
Word by Word
{'vyāsa uvāca''Vyāsa said', 'atra api': 'here also
{'vyāsa uvāca':
in this context too', 'udāharanti''they cite
in this context too', 'udāharanti':
they adduce as an example', 'imam''this', 'itihāsam': 'ancient narrative
they adduce as an example', 'imam':
traditional account (used as moral precedent)', 'purātanam''ancient
traditional account (used as moral precedent)', 'purātanam':
of old', 'aśmagītam''the ‘Song of Aśmā’ (a traditional didactic song/account)', 'nara-vyāghra': 'tiger among men
of old', 'aśmagītam':
best of men (honorific address)', 'tat''that', 'nibodha': 'understand
best of men (honorific address)', 'tat':
learn', 'yudhiṣṭhira''Yudhiṣṭhira'}
learn', 'yudhiṣṭhira':
Speaker
व्यास उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VyāsaY
YudhiṣṭhiraA
Aśmā (associated with the Aśmagīta)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Educational Q&A
Moral instruction is often conveyed through ancient precedents (itihāsa). Vyāsa signals that the ethical point under discussion will be clarified by a traditional exemplum, urging attentive listening and understanding.
Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and introduces an old illustrative story—called the Aśmagīta—presented as a well-known example cited by the learned, preparing the listener for a didactic account.