वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
ततः पार्थ समासाद्य पाण्डवानां महारथम् | आह्वयामास बीभत्सुं बाल्यान्मोहाच्च संयुगे
tataḥ pārtha samāsādya pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāratham | āhvayāmāsa bībhatsuṃ bālyān mohācca saṃyuge ||
Rồi nhà vua ấy tiến đến Pārtha—bậc đại xa chiến trong hàng Pāṇḍava—và giữa tiếng binh đao, vì tính trẻ dại hấp tấp cùng mê muội, đã thách thức Bībhatsu (Arjuna) giao chiến.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights that war can be instigated not only by policy or justice but also by childish pride and delusion; ethical restraint and clarity are implied as superior to impulsive provocation.
An unnamed king rides up to Arjuna (Pārtha/Bībhatsu), the foremost warrior among the Pāṇḍavas, and challenges him to fight, motivated by immaturity and confusion in the heat of battle.