Shloka 19
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
अनुजममुर्महात्मान क्षत्रियाश्व विशाम्पते । विधिवत् पृथिवीपाल धर्मराजस्य शासनात्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Anujam amum mahātmānaṃ kṣatriyāś ca viśāṃpate | Vidhivat pṛthivīpālā dharmarājasya śāsanāt ||
বৈশম্পায়নে ক’লে—হে প্ৰজানাথ! বহু ক্ষত্ৰিয় আৰু ভূ-পালকে ধৰ্মৰাজৰ শাসন অনুসাৰে বিধিপূৰ্বক সেই মহাত্মা কনিষ্ঠ ভ্ৰাতা অৰ্জুনক অনুসৰণ কৰিলে। তেওঁলোকৰ সৈতে বেদপাৰঙ্গত বহু ব্ৰাহ্মণেও ধৰ্মৰাজৰ আজ্ঞা মানি লগত গ’ল।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in governance: a righteous king’s command (Dharmarāja’s śāsana) is to be carried out in a lawful, ritually proper manner (vidhivat), and society’s leaders—kings, kṣatriyas, and learned Brāhmaṇas—support a legitimate royal enterprise through disciplined cooperation.
During the Aśvamedha-related events, Arjuna, the younger brother of Yudhiṣṭhira, proceeds on his mission accompanied by many kṣatriyas and rulers, and also by numerous Veda-versed Brāhmaṇas, all following him in accordance with Yudhiṣṭhira’s directive.