Śamī-vṛkṣe śastra-nidhāna and Entry into Virāṭa’s Capital (शमीवृक्षे शस्त्रनिधानम्)
पश्यैकपद्यो दृश्यन्ते क्षेत्राणि विविधानि च । व्यक्त दूरे विराटस्य राजधानी भविष्यति । वसामेहापरां रात्रिं बलवान् मे परिश्रम:,“महाराज! देखिये, यहाँ अनेक प्रकारके खेत और उनमें पहुँचनेके लिये बहुत-सी पगडंडियाँ दिखायी देती हैं। जान पड़ता है, विराटकी राजधानी अभी दूर होगी। मुझे बड़ी थकावट हो रही है, अत: हम एक रात और यहीं रहें'
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
paśyaikapadyō dṛśyante kṣetrāṇi vividhāni ca |
vyaktaṃ dūre virāṭasya rājadhānī bhaviṣyati |
vasāmehāparāṃ rātriṃ balavān me pariśramaḥ ||
毗湿摩波耶那说:“看——此处可见种种田畴,又有通向田间的狭窄小径。显然,毗罗吒王的都城仍在远处。我疲惫不堪;因此,让我们就在这里再宿一夜。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights practical dharma in travel: discern the landscape, judge distance realistically, and acknowledge bodily limits. Ethical action includes prudent rest rather than forcing the group onward when fatigue becomes overpowering.
As the travelers approach the region of King Virāṭa, signs of settled agriculture—fields and footpaths—appear. The speaker infers that the capital is still some distance away and proposes staying there for the night due to intense fatigue.