Shloka 27
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मिन् यज्ञे प्रवृत्ते तु वाग्मिनो हेतुवादिन: । हेतुवादान् बहूनाहु: परस्परजिगीषव:
vaiśampāyana uvāca
tasmin yajñe pravṛtte tu vāgmino hetuvādinaḥ |
hetuvādān bahūn āhuḥ parasparajigīṣavaḥ ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“大王，当那场祭祀一经开始，许多善辩的学者——好争论、欲胜彼此——便在彼处提出种种论证与反驳。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how learning and eloquence can be driven either by the pursuit of truth or by the desire to win. It implicitly cautions that debate in sacred contexts should serve dharma and understanding, not mere victory.
As the sacrifice begins, a gathering of skilled speakers and logicians starts engaging in extensive disputation, each trying to defeat the others through reasoned argument.