Shloka 19
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
ततो गान्धारराजस्यथ मन्त्रिवृद्धपुर:सरा । जननी निर्ययौ भीता पुरस्कृत्यार्घ्यमुत्तमम्
tato gāndhārarājasya atha mantrivṛddhapuraḥsarā | jananī niryayau bhītā puraskṛtyārghyam uttamam ||
Alors la mère du roi de Gāndhāra, le cœur saisi de crainte, sortit de la cité, plaçant devant elle les ministres âgés comme escorte, et portant un arghya d’une excellence suprême—offrande d’honneur—puis s’avança vers le lieu du combat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in fearful and violent circumstances, one may choose a dharmic response—approaching with respect, proper protocol, and conciliatory intent (arghya), rather than escalating hostility.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Gāndhāra king’s mother, frightened, leaves the city with elderly ministers leading the way and brings an excellent arghya to respectfully approach those present at the battlefield/conflict scene.