Shloka 6
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
ते वध्यमाना: पार्थेन हयमुत्सृज्य सम्भ्रमात्
te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena hayam utsṛjya sambhramāt
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。パールタ（アルジュナ）に討ち伏せられた彼らは、恐慌に呑まれてアシュヴァメーダの祭馬を捨て、混乱のうちに逃げ散った。この場面は、侵略が正当な抵抗に遭うとき恐れと無秩序が生まれること、そして祭馬が主権の象徴として焦点となり、挑む者がついに奪い得ないことを示している。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When power is exercised in defense of rightful order (dharma), those driven by challenge or greed often collapse into fear and confusion; the verse highlights the moral and political weight carried by the Aśvamedha horse as a symbol of legitimate sovereignty.
As Arjuna attacks and overpowers the opposing group, they panic and abandon the sacrificial horse, retreating in disorder—showing Arjuna’s successful protection of the Aśvamedha procession.