Shloka 176
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
प्रायात् पार्थेन सहित: शान्त्यर्थ वेदपारग: । याज्ञवल्क्य मुनिके एक विद्वान् शिष्य, जो यज्ञकर्ममें कुशल तथा वेदोंमें पारंगत थे, विघ्नकी शान्तिके लिये अर्जुनके साथ गये
prāyāt pārthena sahitaḥ śāntyarthaṃ vedapāragaḥ | yājñavalkya-munike ekaḥ vidvān śiṣyaḥ, yo yajñakarmāṇi kuśalaḥ tathā vedaiḥ pāraṅgataḥ, vighnasya śāntaye ’rjuna-saha gataḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: A learned disciple, accomplished in Vedic study and skilled in the rites of sacrifice, set out together with Pārtha (Arjuna) for the sake of pacification—so that obstacles might be appeased and the sacred undertaking could proceed without disruption. The narrative underscores that righteous action is safeguarded not only by strength but by disciplined ritual knowledge and the ethical duty to remove impediments to a lawful rite.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharmic enterprises—especially sacrificial rites—require both valor and disciplined sacred knowledge. Removing obstacles (vighna-śānti) through proper ritual expertise is presented as an ethical responsibility to protect a lawful, community-ordering act.
A learned disciple, proficient in Vedic study and sacrificial procedure, accompanies Arjuna to perform pacificatory measures so that impediments to the ongoing sacred undertaking (connected with the Aśvamedha context) may be neutralized.