Shloka 18

Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)

Devanagari script

राजपुत्रो महाबाहु: श्यामो राजीवलोचन: । अभिमन्यो: पिता वीर: स एन पालयिष्यति,“जिनकी बड़ी-बड़ी भुजाएँ हैं, श्याम वर्ण है, कमल-जैसे नेत्र हैं, वे अभिमन्युके वीर पिता राजपुत्र अर्जुन इस घोड़ेकी रक्षा करेंगे

Transliteration

rājaputro mahābāhuḥ śyāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | abhimanyoḥ pitā vīraḥ sa enaṃ pālayiṣyati ||

Translation

ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಆ ರಾಜಪುತ್ರನು, ಮಹಾಬಾಹು, ಶ್ಯಾಮವರ್ಣ, ಕಮಲನಯನ—ಅಭಿಮನ್ಯುವಿನ ವೀರ ತಂದೆ ಅರ್ಜುನನು—ಈ ಅಶ್ವವನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವನು.

Word by Word

राजपुत्रःthe king's son (prince)

महाबाहुःmighty-armed

श्यामःdark-complexioned

राजीवलोचनःlotus-eyed

अभिमन्योःof Abhimanyu

पिताfather

वीरःheroic, valiant

सःhe

एनम्this (one), him/it

पालयिष्यतिwill protect

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Abhimanyu

Aśvamedha horse

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic stewardship: sacred and royal responsibilities (like guarding the Aśvamedha horse) must be entrusted to capable, disciplined protectors who uphold honor and righteousness while ensuring the ritual’s integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana identifies Arjuna—described by heroic epithets—as the appointed guardian of the Aśvamedha horse, indicating that he will accompany and defend it during its sanctioned wanderings.