Shloka 2
Rājagṛhe Magadheśvarasya yuddhāhvānam — Arjunena saṃyamaḥ
The Rājagṛha Challenge and Arjuna’s Restraint
ततः स पुनरावर्त्य हयः कामचरो बली । आससाद पुरी रम्यां चेदीनां शुक्तिसाह्वयाम्
tataḥ sa punarāvartya hayaḥ kāmacaro balī | āsasāda purī ramyāṃ cedīnāṃ śuktisāhvayām ||
Kemudian kuda yang gagah itu, yang mengembara menurut kehendaknya sendiri, berpaling kembali dan tiba di kota indah milik bangsa Cedi, yang masyhur dengan nama Śukti.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Ashvamedha’s dharmic-political logic: the consecrated horse moves freely, and its unimpeded passage signifies acceptance of the sacrificer’s sovereignty; resistance would invite a righteous contest framed by duty and royal order.
The powerful, freely roaming sacrificial horse turns back and arrives at the Cedi realm’s beautiful city known as Śukti, marking the next stage of its sanctioned journey during the Ashvamedha.