Shloka 5
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
अश्वविद्याविदश्वैव सूता विप्राश्न तद्विद: । मेध्यमश्चं परीक्षन्तां तव यज्ञार्थसिद्धये,अश्वविद्याके ज्ञाता सूत और ब्राह्मण यज्ञार्थकी सिद्धिके लिये पवित्र अश्वकी परीक्षा करें
aśvavidyāvidaś caiva sūtā viprāś ca tadvidaḥ | medhyam aśvaṃ parīkṣantāṃ tava yajñārthasiddhaye ||
Vyāsa said: “Let the charioteers and the Brahmins who are skilled in the science of horses—those who truly know it—examine the consecrated, ritually pure horse, so that your sacrifice may be properly accomplished.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual success depends on competence and propriety: qualified experts should verify that what is offered is truly fit (medhya) for the rite, aligning action with dharma rather than mere display.
Vyāsa instructs that specialists—sūtas and Brahmins knowledgeable in horse-lore—should inspect the sacrificial horse so the intended Aśvamedha sacrifice can be completed without flaw.