Shloka 2
Rājagṛhe Magadheśvarasya yuddhāhvānam — Arjunena saṃyamaḥ
The Rājagṛha Challenge and Arjuna’s Restraint
ततः स पुनरावर्त्य हयः कामचरो बली । आससाद पुरी रम्यां चेदीनां शुक्तिसाह्वयाम्,वह इच्छानुसार विचरनेवाला अश्व पुनः: उधरसे लौटकर चेदियोंकी रमणीय राजधानीमें जो शुक्तिपुरी (या माहिष्मतीपुरी)-के नामसे विख्यात थी, आया
tataḥ sa punarāvartya hayaḥ kāmacaro balī | āsasāda purī ramyāṃ cedīnāṃ śuktisāhvayām ||
Then the powerful horse, roaming wherever it pleased, turned back again and arrived at the delightful city of the Cedis, renowned by the name Śukti.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Ashvamedha’s dharmic-political logic: the consecrated horse moves freely, and its unimpeded passage signifies acceptance of the sacrificer’s sovereignty; resistance would invite a righteous contest framed by duty and royal order.
The powerful, freely roaming sacrificial horse turns back and arrives at the Cedi realm’s beautiful city known as Śukti, marking the next stage of its sanctioned journey during the Ashvamedha.