Shloka 23
Subhadrā-vivāha-saṃsthāpana, Vṛṣṇi–Kuru satkāra, and Abhimanyu-janma
Chapter 213
कथं च नानृत॑ मे स्थात् तव चापि प्रियं भवेत् । न च पीड्येत मे धर्मस्तथा कुर्या भुजड़मे,नागकन्ये! तुम ऐसा कोई उपाय करो, जिससे मुझे झूठका दोष न लगे, तुम्हारा भी प्रिय हो और मेरे धर्मको भी हानि न पहुँचे
Arjuna uvāca: kathaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ me sthāt tava cāpi priyaṃ bhavet | na ca pīḍyeta me dharmas tathā kuryā bhujagame, nāgakanye ||
অর্জুন বললেন—হে নাগকন্যে! এমন উপায় ভেবে বলো, যাতে আমার অসত্যের দোষ না লাগে, তোমারও প্রিয় সিদ্ধ হয়, আর আমার ধর্মও ক্ষুণ্ণ না হয়।
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic tension: one should avoid falsehood (anṛta) while also honoring relational obligations and desires, seeking a solution that preserves integrity without harming dharma.
Arjuna addresses a nāga maiden and asks her to propose a way forward that will satisfy her wish while ensuring he does not incur the blame of lying and does not compromise his dharma.