Shloka 23
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
अब्रवीद्धि महातेजा: प्रस्थितं मां युधिष्ठिर: । राजानस्ते न हन्तव्या धनंजय कथंचन
abravīd dhi mahātejāḥ prasthitaṃ māṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | rājānas te na hantavyā dhanaṃjaya kathaṃcana, vaktavyāś cāpi rājānaḥ sarve sahasuhṛjjanaiḥ | yudhiṣṭhirasya aśvamedho bhavadbhir anubhūyatām ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—আমি যাত্রা করলে মহাতেজস্বী যুধিষ্ঠির বললেন—“ধনঞ্জয়! কোনো অবস্থাতেই ঐ রাজাদের বধ করবে না। বরং সকল রাজাকে তাদের সুহৃদ ও মিত্রসহ বলে দিও—‘এসো, যুধিষ্ঠিরের অশ্বমেধ-উৎসবে অংশ নিয়ে আনন্দ করো’।”
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.