Shloka 47
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
ततो मृगमिवाकाशे यथा देव: पिनाकधृक् । ससार त॑ं तथा वीरो विधिवद् यज्ञियं हयम्
tato mṛgam ivākāśe yathā devaḥ pinākadhṛk | sasāra taṃ tathā vīro vidhivad yajñiyaṃ hayam ||
Alors, de même que le dieu qui porte l’arc Pināka (Śiva) s’élança jadis dans le ciel à la poursuite d’un cerf, ainsi le héros Arjuna, selon le rite et la règle, poursuivit le cheval du sacrifice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes disciplined adherence to dharma: even a heroic pursuit is framed as vidhivat—performed under prescribed norms—because the horse is consecrated to a yajña. Power is legitimized by restraint and ritual duty rather than personal impulse.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna setting out to follow the Aśvamedha horse. His swift pursuit is compared to Śiva (Pinākadhṛk) chasing a deer through the sky, highlighting Arjuna’s speed and resolve in fulfilling the sacrificial mission.