Shloka 46
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
परिवार्य हयं जग्मुस्ततश्लुक्रोध पाण्डव: । यद्यपि पार्थने सान्त्वनापूर्वक समझा-बुझाकर उन सबको युद्धसे रोका, तथापि वे अमर्षशील योद्धा उस घोड़ेको चारों ओरसे घेरकर उसे पकड़नेके लिये आगे बढ़े। यह देख पाण्जुपुत्र अर्जुनको बड़ा क्रोध हुआ
parivārya hayaṁ jagmus tataś ca krodha-pāṇḍavāḥ | yady api pārthena sāntvanāpūrvakaṁ samjñāpayitvā yuddhāt nivāritāḥ, tathāpi te amarṣa-śīlā yodhā aśvaṁ sarvataḥ parikṣipya grahītuṁ pravavṛduḥ | tad dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍu-putra arjunasya mahān krodho 'bhavat ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The Pāṇḍava warriors, inflamed with anger, moved forward and surrounded the sacrificial horse. Although Arjuna, son of Pṛthā, tried to restrain them from battle by calming words and reasoned persuasion, those proud, intolerant fighters still pressed on, encircling the horse from all sides to seize it. Seeing this, Pāṇḍu’s son Arjuna was overcome by great wrath. The episode highlights the ethical tension between restraint and the impulsive drive to assert honor, especially when a royal rite and its symbol—the horse—are threatened.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical struggle between self-restraint and reactive honor. Even when a leader (Arjuna) attempts pacification and avoidance of violence, unchecked pride and intolerance (amarṣa) can drive conflict—showing why mastery over anger is crucial for dharma, especially in politically charged ritual contexts.
During the Aśvamedha context, the sacrificial horse becomes the focal symbol of sovereignty. Some Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors, angered, surround and attempt to seize the horse. Arjuna tries to stop them through calming persuasion, but they still advance, and Arjuna’s anger flares upon witnessing their defiance.