Shloka 17
Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त: स तु धर्मात्मा कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिर: । अश्वमेधस्य कौरव्य चकाराहरणे मतिम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktaḥ sa tu dharmātmā kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | aśvamedhasya kauravya cakārāharaṇe matim |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah demikian diucapkan, Yudhiṣṭhira yang berhati dharma, raja bangsa Kuru—wahai keturunan Kuru—pun berketetapan untuk menyelenggarakan Aśvamedha, dan mengarahkan pikirannya pada segala persiapan yang diperlukan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after catastrophic conflict, a ruler grounded in dharma seeks legitimacy and social restoration through sanctioned, ethical means—here, by resolving to perform a major Vedic rite rather than pursuing further violence or personal gain.
After hearing prior counsel (contextually, guidance from elders such as Vyāsa), Yudhiṣṭhira forms the intention to commence the Aśvamedha and begins directing his mind toward procuring and arranging what the sacrifice requires.