Mahabharata 7.17.29 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 17, Shloka 29
Saṃśaptakas in Candrārdha-vyūha; Arjuna’s Devadatta and the Traigarta Rout
Chapter 17
ये वै लोकाश्चाव्रतिनां ये चैव ब्रह्मघातिनाम् । मद्यपस्य च ये लोका गुरुदाररतस्य च
ye vai lokāś cāvratināṁ ye caiva brahma-ghātinām | madya-pasya ca ye lokā guru-dāra-ratasya ca ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন— “যদি আমরা অর্জুনকে যুদ্ধে বধ না করে ফিরে আসি, অথবা তার বাণে আহত হয়ে ভয়ে যুদ্ধ থেকে মুখ ফিরাই, তবে আমাদের সেই পাপময় লোকই প্রাপ্ত হবে—যা ব্রতহীন, ব্রাহ্মণহন্তা, মদ্যপ এবং গুরুর স্ত্রীগামীকে প্রাপ্য।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
For warriors, shrinking from battle out of fear—especially when a decisive duty is at stake—is portrayed as a grave moral failure, likened to the worst transgressions that lead to sinful post-mortem realms.
Sañjaya reports a warning-like sentiment: if the Kaurava side fails to kill Arjuna or retreats because of his arrows, they will incur extreme demerit and be destined for the same hellish realms as notorious sinners.
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