Shloka 23
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
ये चापि त्वां महाबाहो प्रत्युद्यान्ति नराधिपा: । तैर्विग्रहो यथा न स्यात् तथा कार्य त्वयानघ
ye cāpi tvāṃ mahābāho pratyudyānti narādhipāḥ | tair vigraho yathā na syāt tathā kāryaṃ tvayānagha ||
महाबाहो, निष्पाप अर्जुना! अश्वाच्या रक्षणकाळी जे राजे तुझ्या विरोधासाठी पुढे येतील, त्यांच्याशी संघर्ष होऊ नये अशी काळजी घे. शक्य तितके युद्ध न करता आपले कर्तव्य पूर्ण करण्याचा प्रयत्न कर.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a mission backed by royal authority, dharma favors restraint: one should aim to fulfill the objective while minimizing violence and preventing unnecessary conflict.
During the Aśvamedha context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Arjuna that if kings come out to challenge him, he should act so that a fight does not arise—seeking a nonviolent resolution where possible.