Shloka 25
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
किराता यवना राजन् बहवो5सिथनुर्धरा: । म्लेच्छाश्षान्ये बहुविधा: पूर्व ये निकृता रणे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kirātā yavanā rājan bahavo 'sthi-dhanur-dharāḥ | mlecchāś cānye bahuvidhāḥ pūrva ye nikṛtā raṇe ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô roi, de nombreux Kirāta et Yavana—guerriers portant arcs et armes—ainsi que d’autres groupes mleccha de toutes sortes, jadis vaincus au combat, s’avancèrent à présent pour affronter Arjuna.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the continuing consequences of war: even after a decisive victory, hostility and resistance can re-emerge. It also reflects the epic’s political-ethical realism—kings must remain vigilant, and past enmities may resurface when power is asserted (as in the Ashvamedha context).
Vaiśampāyana reports to the king that many groups—Kirātas, Yavanas, and other mlecchas—previously defeated in earlier fighting, assemble again and come to face Arjuna, setting the stage for renewed confrontation during the Ashvamedhika events.