Shloka 10
Rājagṛhe Magadheśvarasya yuddhāhvānam — Arjunena saṃyamaḥ
The Rājagṛha Challenge and Arjuna’s Restraint
स तं जित्वा महाराज नैषादिं पाकशासनि: । अर्चित: प्रययौ भूयो दक्षिणं सलिलार्णवम्,महाराज! एकलव्यके पुत्रको पराजित करके उसके द्वारा पूजित हुए इन्द्रकुमार अर्जुन फिर दक्षिण समुद्रके तटपर गये
sa taṁ jitvā mahārāja naiṣādiṁ pākaśāsaniḥ | arcitaḥ prayayau bhūyo dakṣiṇaṁ salilārṇavam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Raja Agung, setelah menewaskan ketua Niṣāda itu, Arjuna—putera Indra, masyhur sebagai penghukum orang durjana—dihormati olehnya. Sesudah itu Arjuna berangkat lagi ke selatan, menuju lautan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restrained kingship: a kṣatriya may enforce order by defeating opposition during a righteous royal rite, yet once the opponent submits and offers honor, the victor moves on without vindictive excess—balancing power with propriety.
During the Aśvamedha expedition, Arjuna defeats the Niṣāda leader. After receiving homage from the defeated chief, Arjuna continues his journey toward the southern sea as part of securing the horse’s passage and the ritual’s political acknowledgment.