Shloka 6
अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः
Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution
किमयं चार्यते वाजी स्त्रीमध्य इव भारत । हयमेनं हरिष्यामि प्रयतस्व विमोक्षणे,“भरतनन्दन! इस घोड़ेके पीछे क्यों फिर रहे हो! यह तो ऐसा जान पड़ता है, मानो स्त्रियोंके बीच चल रहा हो। मैं इसका अपहरण कर रहा हूँ। तुम इसे छुड़ानेका प्रयत्न करो
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kim ayaṃ cāryate vājī strī-madhya iva bhārata | hayam enaṃ hariṣyāmi prayatasva vimokṣaṇe ||
“โอ ภารตะ! ไฉนม้าตัวนี้จึงถูกนำพาไปเช่นนี้ ราวกับเดินอยู่ท่ามกลางสตรี? เราจะฉกชิงม้าตัวนี้ไป; เจ้าจงพยายามให้สุดกำลังเพื่อชิงมันคืนเถิด”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic test of kingship: the Aśvamedha horse symbolizes sovereign authority, and any attempt to seize it demands a principled response—courage, readiness to defend rightful ritual order, and accountability through open challenge rather than covert harm.
During the Aśvamedha, a challenger taunts the escort by saying the horse is being led in a dishonorable, unmanly way—“as if among women”—and declares he will take it. He then calls on the addressed warrior to attempt its rescue, initiating a confrontation that tests strength and legitimacy.