Shloka 19

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

अनुजममुर्महात्मान क्षत्रियाश्व विशाम्पते । विधिवत्‌ पृथिवीपाल धर्मराजस्य शासनात्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Anujam amum mahātmānaṃ kṣatriyāś ca viśāṃpate | Vidhivat pṛthivīpālā dharmarājasya śāsanāt ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“噢，民众之主！许多刹帝利与诸地之君王，奉达摩罗阇之令，循礼而行，追随那位幼弟——大心的阿周那。与他们同往的，还有无数通晓吠陀的婆罗门，也依达摩罗阇之训诫而随行；众人以严整的服从，扶持这场合乎法的王者大业。”

Word by Word

• अनुजम्: younger brother
• अनुजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमुम्: that (person)
• अमुम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अदस् (प्रातिपदिक: अमु-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षत्रिय: O Kshatriya
• क्षत्रिय: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अश्व: O horse(-like one) / O Ashva (epithet)
• अश्व: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विशाम्: of the people
• विशाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• पते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विधिवत्: according to rule; duly
• विधिवत्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• पृथिवीपालाः: kings; protectors of the earth
• पृथिवीपालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शासनात्: from the command; by order
• शासनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रजानाथ: O lord of subjects
• प्रजानाथ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजानाथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Kṣatriyas
• Pṛthivīpālas (kings/rulers)
• Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma in governance: a righteous king’s command (Dharmarāja’s śāsana) is to be carried out in a lawful, ritually proper manner (vidhivat), and society’s leaders—kings, kṣatriyas, and learned Brāhmaṇas—support a legitimate royal enterprise through disciplined cooperation.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Aśvamedha-related events, Arjuna, the younger brother of Yudhiṣṭhira, proceeds on his mission accompanied by many kṣatriyas and rulers, and also by numerous Veda-versed Brāhmaṇas, all following him in accordance with Yudhiṣṭhira’s directive.