Shloka 10
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
पार्थोउब्रवीज्न मे वध्या राजानो राजशासनात् | अलं युद्धेन ते वीर न ते5स्त्वद्य पराजय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pārtho 'bravīn me vadhyā rājāno rājaśāsanāt | alaṃ yuddhena te vīra na te 'stv adya parājayaḥ |
पार्थ (अर्जुन) बोला— “राजा की आज्ञा से ये राजा मेरे द्वारा वध योग्य नहीं हैं। वीर! युद्ध बस करो; आज तुम्हारी पराजय न हो।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within kṣatriya-dharma, violence is not automatic; it is bounded by higher obligations such as obedience to legitimate royal command and the ethical choice to restrain force when killing is not sanctioned.
During the events of the Aśvamedha-related campaign, Arjuna addresses an opposing warrior/king and declares that, by Yudhiṣṭhira’s order, he will not kill kings; therefore the opponent should stop fighting to avoid defeat.