Shloka 24
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
मैवं भू: शाम्यतां वैरं मा ते भूद् बुद्धिरीदृशी । गच्छेथथास्त्वं परां चैत्रीमश्वमेधे नूपस्य न:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
maivaṁ bhūḥ śāmyatāṁ vairaṁ mā te bhūd buddhir īdṛśī |
gacchethathās tvaṁ parāṁ caitrīm aśvamedhe nūpasya naḥ ||
«N’agis pas ainsi. Que l’hostilité s’apaise ; ne laisse plus naître en toi une telle résolution — ne songe jamais à reprendre les armes contre nous. À la prochaine pleine lune du mois de Caitra, le roi Yudhiṣṭhira accomplira le sacrifice de l’Aśvamedha ; tu dois assurément t’y rendre.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges restraint and reconciliation: enmity should be calmed, and one should not let a hostile intention harden into renewed warfare. Ethical governance is shown through inviting former opponents into a public, dharmic rite rather than perpetuating vendetta.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana, narrating) conveys a message that discourages further conflict against the Pāṇḍavas and extends an invitation to attend Yudhiṣṭhira’s forthcoming Aśvamedha sacrifice on the Caitra full-moon, signaling a move from war to ritual and political consolidation.