Shloka 176
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
प्रायात् पार्थेन सहित: शान्त्यर्थ वेदपारग: । याज्ञवल्क्य मुनिके एक विद्वान् शिष्य, जो यज्ञकर्ममें कुशल तथा वेदोंमें पारंगत थे, विघ्नकी शान्तिके लिये अर्जुनके साथ गये
prāyāt pārthena sahitaḥ śāntyarthaṃ vedapāragaḥ | yājñavalkya-munike ekaḥ vidvān śiṣyaḥ, yo yajñakarmāṇi kuśalaḥ tathā vedaiḥ pāraṅgataḥ, vighnasya śāntaye ’rjuna-saha gataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Un disciple savant, accompli dans l’étude des Veda et habile aux rites du sacrifice, partit avec Pārtha (Arjuna) dans un dessein d’apaisement — afin que les obstacles fussent calmés et que l’entreprise sacrée pût se poursuivre sans trouble. Le récit souligne que l’action juste n’est pas protégée par la seule force, mais aussi par un savoir rituel discipliné et par le devoir éthique d’écarter ce qui entrave un rite légitime.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharmic enterprises—especially sacrificial rites—require both valor and disciplined sacred knowledge. Removing obstacles (vighna-śānti) through proper ritual expertise is presented as an ethical responsibility to protect a lawful, community-ordering act.
A learned disciple, proficient in Vedic study and sacrificial procedure, accompanies Arjuna to perform pacificatory measures so that impediments to the ongoing sacred undertaking (connected with the Aśvamedha context) may be neutralized.