Shloka 1
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
व बछ। डिश द्विसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: व्यासजीकी आज्ञासे अश्वकी रक्षाके लिये अर्जुनकी
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktas tu kṛṣṇena dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | vyāsam āmantya medhāvī tato vacanam abravīt ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：“噢，阇那梅阇耶！当克里希那如此言毕，睿智的达摩之子由提施提罗便启请毗耶娑而说道：‘世尊！当您认为开始马祭（Aśvamedha）的时机已至，请您前来为我授予灌顶受戒之礼（dīkṣā）；因为此祭全然系于您之裁可与护持。’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a sovereign king submits to dharma by seeking proper authorization and timing from a qualified spiritual authority (Vyāsa). The passage emphasizes humility, ritual correctness, and the ethical principle that power should be guided by wisdom and dharmic counsel.
After Kṛṣṇa’s counsel, Yudhiṣṭhira turns to Vyāsa and requests that Vyāsa himself determine the right moment to commence the Aśvamedha and to initiate him with the required consecration, acknowledging that the success and legitimacy of the rite depend on Vyāsa’s guidance.