Shloka 10
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
पार्थोउब्रवीज्न मे वध्या राजानो राजशासनात् | अलं युद्धेन ते वीर न ते5स्त्वद्य पराजय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pārtho 'bravīn me vadhyā rājāno rājaśāsanāt | alaṃ yuddhena te vīra na te 'stv adya parājayaḥ |
பார்த்தன் (அர்ஜுனன்) கூறினான்— “அரசரின் ஆணையினால் இவ்வரசர்கள் எனால் கொல்லப்பட வேண்டியவர்கள் அல்லர். வீரா, போர் போதும்; இன்று உனக்கு தோல்வி நேராதிருக்கட்டும்.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within kṣatriya-dharma, violence is not automatic; it is bounded by higher obligations such as obedience to legitimate royal command and the ethical choice to restrain force when killing is not sanctioned.
During the events of the Aśvamedha-related campaign, Arjuna addresses an opposing warrior/king and declares that, by Yudhiṣṭhira’s order, he will not kill kings; therefore the opponent should stop fighting to avoid defeat.