Shloka 19
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अहं तु प्रद्वते पूर्व प्रहरिष्पामि तेडनघ । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तद् भवान् कर्तुमहति
ahaṃ tu pradvatē pūrvaṃ prahariṣyāmi te 'nagha | iti me vartate buddhis tad bhavān kartum arhati ||
“অনঘ! আপনি আগে আঘাত করলে তবেই আমি আপনাকে আঘাত করব—আমার বুদ্ধিতে এই সংকল্পই স্থির। অতএব যা যথোচিত, আপনি তাই করুন; আপনিই আগে আমাকে আক্রমণ করুন।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, one may bind oneself to ethical restraint: the speaker refuses to be the initiator of violence against a respected, ‘blameless’ opponent, emphasizing honor, self-control, and dharmic conduct amid conflict.
In the course of a battle episode narrated by Vaiśampāyana, a combatant declares a firm resolve: he will not strike first and will retaliate only after the other party attacks, urging the opponent to make the first move.