Shloka 48
वसुदेव–अर्जुन संवादः
Vasudeva–Arjuna Dialogue in the Aftermath of Dvārakā
अयमेकोडर्जुनो धन्वी वृद्धबालं हतेश्वरम् । नयत्यस्मानतिक्रम्य योधाक्षेमे हतौजस:,'भाइयो! देखो, यह अकेला धनुर्धर अर्जुन और ये हतोत्साह सैनिक हमलोगोंको लाँघकर वृद्धों और बालकोंके इस अनाथ समुदायको लिये जा रहे हैं (अत: इनपर आक्रमण करना चाहिये)”
ayam eko 'rjuno dhanvī vṛddha-bālaṁ hateśvaram | nayaty asmān atikramya yodhākṣeme hataujaḥ ||
وقالوا: «انظروا—هذا أرجونا الرامي وحده، يتجاوزنا ويقتاد تلك الجماعة العاجزة من الشيوخ والأطفال وقد فقدت حُماتها. وهؤلاء المحاربون قد فترت هممهم وانكسرت قوتهم. فلنهاجم!»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical crisis after the fall of protectors: when guardians are gone, the vulnerable (elders and children) become targets. It implicitly contrasts dharma—protecting the helpless—with adharma—preying on the unprotected and attacking even a lone defender.
A group observes that Arjuna, alone, is escorting a defenseless community of elders and children whose leaders have been slain. Seeing the escort as weak and the situation unsafe, hostile warriors incite one another to attack and seize them.