Shloka 3

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधयज्ञके लिये छोड़े हुए घोड़ेका अर्जुनके द्वारा अनुगमन हयश्न हयमेधार्थ स्वयं स ब्रह्म॒वादिना । उत्सृष्ट: शास्त्रविधिना व्यासेनामिततेजसा,अमिततेजस्वी ब्रह्मवादी व्यासजीने अश्वमेधयज्ञके लिये चुने गये अश्वको स्वयं ही शास्त्रीय विधिके अनुसार छोड़ा

Transliteration

aśvamedhārthaṃ svayaṃ sa brahmavādī | utsṛṣṭaḥ śāstravidhinā vyāsenāmitatejasā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dijo: Para el sacrificio del Aśvamedha, el caballo fue soltado conforme al procedimiento de las Escrituras por el propio Vyāsa, el brahmavādī de esplendor inconmensurable. Con ello se indica que el poder real queda sometido a la ley védica y a la contención ética, pues el rito se inicia bajo la autoridad de un sabio y no por mera ambición política.

Word by Word

हयमेधार्थम्for the purpose of the horse-sacrifice

स्वयम्himself

सःhe

ब्रह्मवादिनाby the Brahmavādin (one who speaks of Brahman)

उत्सृष्टःreleased/let loose

शास्त्रविधिनाaccording to scriptural procedure

व्यासेनby Vyāsa

अमिततेजसाof immeasurable splendor

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Vyāsa

Aśvamedha

sacrificial horse

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a king’s assertion of sovereignty through the Aśvamedha must be grounded in śāstra and guided by brahminical-sage authority; power is legitimized only when subordinated to dharma and proper ritual order.

What is happening in the narrative?

At the start of the Aśvamedha proceedings, Vyāsa personally releases the consecrated horse in accordance with scriptural injunctions, setting the rite in motion and establishing its lawful, dharmic framework.