Shloka 29
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
त॑ प्राप्तमपि नेयेष परावृत्तं महाद्विपम् सारोहें मृत्युसात्कर्तु स्मरन् धर्म धनंजय:,यद्यपि वह महान् गजराज आक्रमण करते समय अपने बहुत निकट आ गया था, तो भी अर्जुनने धर्मका स्मरण करके सवारोंसहित उस हाथीको मृत्युके अधीन करनेकी इच्छा नहीं की-
sañjaya uvāca | taṁ prāptam api neyeṣa parāvṛttaṁ mahādvipam | sārohaṁ mṛtyusāt kartuṁ smaran dharmaṁ dhanañjayaḥ ||
সেই মহাদ্বিপ অতি ওচৰলৈ আহিলেও, ধৰ্ম সোঁৱৰি ধনঞ্জয় অৰ্জুনে আৰোহীসহ ঘূৰি যোৱা সেই হাতীক মৃত্যুৰ অধীন কৰিবলৈ ইচ্ছা নকৰিলে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma can require restraint: when an opponent has turned back or is no longer actively threatening, righteous conduct may discourage needless killing—especially of those who are merely mounted upon a beast.
A great war-elephant charges close to Arjuna, but then turns back. Arjuna, recalling dharma, refrains from killing the elephant along with its riders, showing ethical hesitation amid the violence of battle.