Shloka 48
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
सच वाजी यशथेष्टेन तांस्तान् देशान् यथाक्रमम् । विचचार यथाकामं कर्म पार्थस्य वर्धयन्,वह अश्व यथेष्टगतिसे क्रमश: सभी देशोंमें घूमता और अर्जुनके पराक्रमका विस्तार करता हुआ इच्छानुसार विचरने लगा
sa ca vājī yathā-iṣṭena tāṁs tān deśān yathākramam | vicacāra yathākāmaṁ karma pārthasya vardhayan ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dan kuda itu, bergerak menurut kehendaknya, mengembara melalui negeri-negeri itu satu demi satu; merayau sesuka hati, ia terus memperluas kemasyhuran dan pencapaian Pārtha (Arjuna).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights orderly kingship and kṣatriya responsibility: the Ashvamedha horse’s free yet regulated movement symbolizes sovereign authority tested across regions, while Arjuna’s role is to uphold that authority through disciplined action that increases rightful renown.
The sacrificial horse is released to roam through various lands in sequence, moving freely; as it travels, it becomes the occasion for Arjuna’s exploits and the expansion of his fame and the ritual’s political-religious purpose.