Shloka 23
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
ये चापि त्वां महाबाहो प्रत्युद्यान्ति नराधिपा: । तैर्विग्रहो यथा न स्यात् तथा कार्य त्वयानघ
ye cāpi tvāṃ mahābāho pratyudyānti narādhipāḥ | tair vigraho yathā na syāt tathā kāryaṃ tvayānagha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Oh, de brazos poderosos, Arjuna sin mancha: aun si algunos reyes salen a oponérsete, procura que no surja contienda con ellos. Esfuérzate, en cuanto sea posible, por cumplir tu misión de tal modo que no sea necesaria la batalla.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a mission backed by royal authority, dharma favors restraint: one should aim to fulfill the objective while minimizing violence and preventing unnecessary conflict.
During the Aśvamedha context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Arjuna that if kings come out to challenge him, he should act so that a fight does not arise—seeking a nonviolent resolution where possible.