Shloka 4
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
युधिष्ठिरस्यथ वचन न च ते जगृहुर्हितम् । किसीसे परास्त न होनेवाले धर्मात्मा अर्जुनने उन्हें राजा युधिष्ठिरकी बात सुनायी; परंतु उस हितकर वचनको भी वे ग्रहण न कर सके ।। ३ $ ।। वार्यमाणा5पि पार्थेन सान्त्वपूर्वममर्षिता:
yudhiṣṭhirasya atha vacanaṃ na ca te jagṛhuḥ hitam | vāryamāṇā api pārthena sāntvapūrvam amarṣitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Even after hearing Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, they did not accept what was truly beneficial. Though Pārtha (Arjuna) tried to restrain them with conciliatory counsel, they remained unyielding and resentful, unable to take in advice meant for their welfare.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even well-intended, dharma-grounded counsel can fail when the listener is ruled by resentment. The verse highlights an ethical lesson: receptivity and self-restraint are necessary for ‘hita’ (true welfare) to take effect; otherwise, anger blocks moral understanding.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s advice is conveyed, certain persons (unnamed here) refuse to accept it. Arjuna attempts to restrain and soothe them through conciliatory speech, but they remain amarṣitāḥ—unable to endure restraint or accept beneficial guidance.