Shloka 12
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
युधिछिर उवाच अयमश्वो यथा ब्रद्वान्नुत्सृष्ट: पृथिवीमिमाम् । चरिष्यति यथाकामं तत्र वै संविधीयताम्,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--ब्रह्मन! यह घोड़ा उपस्थित है। इसे किस प्रकार छोड़ा जाय, जिससे यह समूची पृथ्वीपर इच्छानुसार घूम आवे। इसकी व्यवस्था आप ही कीजिये तथा मुने! यह भी बताइये कि भूमण्डलमें इच्छानुसार घूमनेवाले इस घोड़ेकी रक्षा कौन करे?
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ayam aśvo yathā brāhmaṇān utsṛṣṭaḥ pṛthivīm imām | cariṣyati yathākāmaṃ tatra vai saṃvidhīyatām |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O Brāhmaṇa, here is the horse. Please arrange how it should be released so that it may roam over this entire earth according to its will. You yourself should make the proper provisions for this. And, O sage, also tell us: who should protect this horse as it wanders freely across the world?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic governance: even a royal ritual asserting sovereignty must be conducted with proper procedure (saṃvidhāna) and with clear responsibility for protection. Authority is shown as accountable, guided by learned counsel, and bound to orderly conduct rather than mere power.
As part of the Aśvamedha preparations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Brāhmaṇa/sage, asking how the sacrificial horse should be released to roam freely over the earth and requesting guidance on who should be assigned to guard it during its wandering.