Shloka 3
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
सो$भिनिर्याय नगराद् भगदत्तसुतो नृप: । अश्वमायान्तमुन्मथ्य नगराभिमुखो ययौ,नगरसे निकलकर भगदत्तकुमार राजा वज्रदत्तने अपनी ओर आते हुए घोड़ेको बलपूर्वक पकड़ लिया और उसे साथ लेकर वह नगरकी ओर चला
so 'bhiniryāya nagarād bhagadattasuto nṛpaḥ | aśvam āyāntam unmathya nagarābhimukho yayau ||
กษัตริย์ผู้เป็นโอรสแห่งภคทัตตะออกจากนคร แล้วฉวยม้าแห่งพิธีที่กำลังเข้ามาด้วยกำลัง จากนั้นหันกลับมุ่งสู่นคร พาม้านั้นไปด้วย
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual acts like the Aśvamedha function as assertions of political sovereignty; forcibly stopping or taking the horse is not merely a physical act but an ethical-political declaration of resistance, which traditionally entails accountability through confrontation and the restoration of order (dharma) in the realm.
Bhagadatta’s son, King Vajrādattā, comes out of the city, forcibly grabs the approaching Aśvamedha horse, and turns back toward the city with it—effectively detaining the horse and challenging the authority behind the sacrifice.