Shloka 2
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
पूर्वमुक्त्वा महाबाहो पठचालान् सह सोमकै: । हनिष्यामीति गाड़्ेय तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
pūrvam uktvā mahābāho pañcālān saha somakaiḥ | haniṣyāmīti gāṅgeya tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
قال دُريودَهَنَة: «يا عظيمَ الساعد، يا غانغيَةَ ابنَ الغانغا، يا جدّي—لقد قلتَ من قبل: “سأقتل البانچالا مع السومَكَة.” فلماذا تكفّ الآن حين يتعلّق الأمرُ بشِخَنْدِين؟ أخبرني.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between martial vows and moral restraints: even in war, a warrior’s conduct is bounded by personal dharma and codes of honor. Duryodhana presses for consistency in Bhīṣma’s vow, while the subtext points to Bhīṣma’s principled refusal to treat Śikhaṇḍin as a legitimate target.
Duryodhana addresses Bhīṣma, reminding him of his earlier declaration to kill the Pāñcālas and their allies (Somakas). He challenges Bhīṣma’s apparent exception regarding Śikhaṇḍin and asks him to explain why he is holding back in that specific case.