Shloka 26
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
एवमुक्त: स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा । तथेत्येवाब्रवीद् वाक््यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जित:,अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर उनसे परास्त हुए भगदत्तकुमार राजा वज्रदत्तने कहा--“बहुत अच्छा, ऐसा ही होगा”
evam uktaḥ sa rājā tu bhagadattātmajas tadā | tathety evābravīd vākyaṃ pāṇḍavenābhinirjitaḥ |
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा । तथेत्येवाब्रवीद् वाक्यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जितः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic response to rightful defeat: a king, once overcome, restrains pride and assents to what has been declared, reflecting kṣatriya discipline, acceptance of just authority, and ethical closure after conflict.
After Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) defeats Bhagadatta’s son Vajrādattā during the Ashvamedha-related campaign, the defeated king responds to Arjuna’s words by agreeing—“So be it; it will be so.”