Shloka 12
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
एष गच्छति कौन्तेय तुरगश्चैव दीप्तिमान् यमन्वेति महाबाहु: संस्पृशन् धनुरुत्तमम्
eṣa gacchati kaunteya turagaś caiva dīptimān yam anveti mahābāhuḥ saṃspṛśan dhanur uttamam
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Voici Arjuna, fils de Kuntī, qui s’en va ; et voici le cheval sacrificiel, resplendissant. À sa suite marche Arjuna aux bras puissants, la main posée sur son arc d’excellence.» Ainsi parlaient les gens, marquant à la fois l’éclat public du rite et la garde vigilante d’Arjuna au service du dharma de Yudhiṣṭhira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in action: a royal rite (Aśvamedha) requires disciplined protection. Arjuna’s hand on the bow symbolizes restrained power—readiness to defend the ritual order without needless aggression.
As the Aśvamedha horse roams, people point out the procession: the radiant horse goes ahead and Arjuna, Kuntī’s son, follows closely, prepared with his bow to meet any challenge to the sacrifice’s authority.