Shloka 23
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
अब्रवीद्धि महातेजा: प्रस्थितं मां युधिष्ठिर: । राजानस्ते न हन्तव्या धनंजय कथंचन,वक्तव्याश्नापि राजान: सर्वे सहसुहृज्जनै: । युधिष्ठिरस्याश्वमेधो भवद्धिरनुभूयताम् “तुम सभी राजाओंसे कह देना कि आप सब लोग अपने सुहृदोंके साथ पधारें और युधिष्ठिरके अश्वमेधयज्ञ-सम्बन्धी उत्सवका आनन्द लें”
abravīd dhi mahātejāḥ prasthitaṃ māṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | rājānas te na hantavyā dhanaṃjaya kathaṃcana, vaktavyāś cāpi rājānaḥ sarve sahasuhṛjjanaiḥ | yudhiṣṭhirasya aśvamedho bhavadbhir anubhūyatām ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: وبينما كنتُ ماضياً في طريقي، خاطبني يودهيشثيرا الجليل ذو البأس: «يا دهننجايا، لا يجوز قتل أولئك الملوك بحالٍ من الأحوال. بل أبلغْ جميع الملوك، مع أصدقائهم وذوي مودّتهم، أن يأتوا ليشهدوا احتفال أشفاميدها ليودهيشثيرا ويشاركوا فيه». وهكذا تُفهم الغلبة لا على أنها فتحٌ جديد، بل كفٌّ للنفس ومصالحةٌ وإعادةٌ علنية للنظام القويم وفق الدارما عبر الشعيرة الملكية.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after a devastating war, righteous rule requires restraint: enemies are not to be hunted down, but invited into a renewed moral and political order. The Aśvamedha here becomes a means of consolidating sovereignty through consent, hospitality, and dharmic legitimacy rather than violence.
As a mission is being undertaken (with the speaker departing), Yudhiṣṭhira gives instructions to Arjuna: do not kill the regional kings; instead, inform them to come with their allies and well-wishers to participate in and enjoy Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha festivities.