Shloka 27
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
हृष्ट-पुष्ट मनुष्यों और वाहनोंसे युक्त बहुत-से रणदुर्मद आर्य नरेश भी पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनसे भिड़े थे ।। एवं वृत्तानि युद्धानि तत्र तत्र महीपते । अर्जुनस्य महीपालैर्नानादेशसमागतै:,पृथ्वीनाथ! इस प्रकार भिन्न-भिन्न स्थानोंमें नाना देशोंसे आये हुए राजाओंके साथ अर्जुनको अनेक बार युद्ध करने पड़े
vaiśampāyana uvāca | hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-manuṣyaiś ca vāhanaiś ca samanvitāḥ bahavo raṇa-durmadā ārya-nareśā api pāṇḍuputram arjunaṃ samabhidruvan || evaṃ vṛttāni yuddhāni tatra tatra mahīpate | arjunasya mahīpālair nānā-deśa-samāgataiḥ pṛthvīnātha ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Many noble kings—exultant and well-supported in men and mounts, and made arrogant by the pride of battle—also confronted Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu. Thus, O lord of the earth, in place after place, Arjuna repeatedly had to fight wars against kings who had come from many different lands. The passage underscores how the Aśvamedha’s progress tests sovereignty and duty: Arjuna meets challengers not out of personal hatred, but as a consequence of royal obligation and the assertion of lawful rule.
वैशम्पायन उवाच