Shloka 4
कालविभाग-निरूपणं तथा युद्धव्यवस्था
Time-Reckoning and Mobilization Counsel
तेषां न तावन्निवव॑त्त वर्तते तु त्रयोदशम् । अज्ञातवासो बीभत्सुरथास्माभि: समागत:,अभी पाण्डवोंका तेरहवाँ वर्ष पूरा नहीं हुआ है, तो भी अज्ञातवासमें रहनेवाला अर्जुन आज प्रकटरूपसे हमारे साथ युद्ध करने आ रहा है
teṣāṃ na tāvan nivṛttaṃ vartate tu trayodaśam | ajñātavāso bībhatsur athāsmābhiḥ samāgataḥ ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «لم تكتمل بعد سنتهم الثالثة عشرة؛ ومع ذلك فإن أرجونا—بيبهاتسو—الذي كان مُلزَمًا بالإقامة في الخفاء، قد خرج الآن إلى العلن وانضمّ إلينا جهارًا.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to time-bound vows: even a righteous cause must respect agreed conditions (the incognito year). Arjuna’s open appearance before the term ends creates a moral and legal tension—whether necessity can justify risking a vow’s breach.
The narrator notes that the Pāṇḍavas’ thirteenth year (the incognito year) is not yet complete, but Arjuna—who should remain hidden—has nevertheless come openly to join the conflict, signaling a turning point where concealment gives way to confrontation.