Shloka 3
Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication
अश्वृं च तं परामृश्य विषयान्ते विषोपमा: । न भयं चक्रिरे पार्थाद् भीमसेनादनन्तरात्,वे विषके समान भयंकर क्षत्रिय अपने राज्यके भीतर आये हुए उस घोड़ेकी पकड़कर भीमसेनके छोटे भाई अर्जुनसे तनिक भी भयभीत नहीं हुए
aśvaṃ ca taṃ parāmṛśya viṣayānte viṣopamāḥ | na bhayaṃ cakrire pārthād bhīmasenād anantarāt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having seized that horse within their own territory, those men—deadly as poison—felt no fear at all of Pārtha Arjuna, the younger brother of Bhīmasena. In their pride and hostility, they treated the sacrificial horse as a provocation and chose defiance over restraint, setting the stage for conflict against dharma’s royal rite.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how arrogance and hostility can blind people to rightful authority and dharmic order: even a sacred royal rite like the Aśvamedha becomes a trigger for confrontation when opponents act 'like poison' and refuse prudent fear or respect.
During the Aśvamedha, the roaming sacrificial horse enters a realm; the local warriors seize it within their borders and, despite Arjuna’s presence as its protector, they do not fear him, signaling their intention to challenge the rite and fight.