Shloka 5
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
अश्वविद्याविदश्वैव सूता विप्राश्न तद्विद: । मेध्यमश्चं परीक्षन्तां तव यज्ञार्थसिद्धये,अश्वविद्याके ज्ञाता सूत और ब्राह्मण यज्ञार्थकी सिद्धिके लिये पवित्र अश्वकी परीक्षा करें
aśvavidyāvidaś caiva sūtā viprāś ca tadvidaḥ | medhyam aśvaṃ parīkṣantāṃ tava yajñārthasiddhaye ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Biarlah para sūta (pemandu kereta) dan para Brahmana yang mahir dalam ilmu kuda—mereka yang benar-benar mengetahuinya—memeriksa kuda yang telah disucikan dan ditetapkan bagi korban, agar upacaramu terlaksana dengan sempurna.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual success depends on competence and propriety: qualified experts should verify that what is offered is truly fit (medhya) for the rite, aligning action with dharma rather than mere display.
Vyāsa instructs that specialists—sūtas and Brahmins knowledgeable in horse-lore—should inspect the sacrificial horse so the intended Aśvamedha sacrifice can be completed without flaw.