Shloka 25
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
आगच्छेथा महाराज परां चैत्रीमुपस्थिताम् । यदाश्वमेधो भविता धर्मराजस्य धीमत:
āgacchethā mahārāja parāṁ caitrīm upasthitām | yadāśvamedho bhavitā dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O großer König, komm nach Hastināpura, wenn der erhabene Vollmond des Monats Caitra herangekommen ist. Dann wird der weise Dharmarāja das vortreffliche Aśvamedha-Opfer vollziehen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship expressed through properly timed, socially unifying ritual: a righteous ruler (Dharmarāja) undertakes a major sacrifice, and others are invited to participate at an auspicious time, reinforcing order, legitimacy, and communal consent.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports an invitation or summons: the addressed king is asked to come to Hastināpura at the arrival of the excellent Caitra full-moon, because Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) will then conduct the Aśvamedha sacrifice.