Shloka 12
Aśvamedha-dīkṣā, Vyāsa’s horse-release, and Arjuna’s departure with Gāṇḍīva (आश्वमेधिक-दीक्षा तथा हय-उत्सर्गः)
युधिछिर उवाच अयमश्वो यथा ब्रद्वान्नुत्सृष्ट: पृथिवीमिमाम् । चरिष्यति यथाकामं तत्र वै संविधीयताम्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ayam aśvo yathā brāhmaṇān utsṛṣṭaḥ pṛthivīm imām | cariṣyati yathākāmaṃ tatra vai saṃvidhīyatām |
尤提希提罗说道：“噢，婆罗门，这里便是那匹马。请安排应当如何放出它，使它能随其所愿遍行此整个大地。诸般妥善之备，请由你亲自裁定。并且，噢，牟尼圣者，也请告知：当此马自由周游天下之时，应由谁来护卫它？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic governance: even a royal ritual asserting sovereignty must be conducted with proper procedure (saṃvidhāna) and with clear responsibility for protection. Authority is shown as accountable, guided by learned counsel, and bound to orderly conduct rather than mere power.
As part of the Aśvamedha preparations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Brāhmaṇa/sage, asking how the sacrificial horse should be released to roam freely over the earth and requesting guidance on who should be assigned to guard it during its wandering.