Shloka 15
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
व्रात्या: संक्लिष्टकर्माण: प्रकृत्यैव च गर्लहिता: । वृष्ण्यन्धका: कथं पार्थ प्रमाणं भवता कृता:,कुन्तीनन्दन! वृष्णि और अन्धकवंशके लोग तो संस्कारभ्रष्ट हिंसा-प्रधान कर्म करनेवाले और स्वभावसे ही निन्दित हैं। फिर उनको तुमने प्रमाण कैसे मान लिया?
vrātyāḥ saṅkliṣṭa-karmāṇaḥ prakṛtyaiva ca garhitāḥ | vṛṣṇy-andhakāḥ kathaṃ pārtha pramāṇaṃ bhavatā kṛtāḥ, kuntī-nandana |
Bhūrīśravā sprach: „Die Vṛṣṇis und Andhakas sind wie Ausgestoßene: in ihren Taten befleckt und von Natur aus tadelnswert. O Pārtha, Sohn der Kuntī, wie konntest du sie dir zum Maßstab und zur Autorität rechten Handelns machen?“
भूरिश्रवा उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharma-debate about pramāṇa (authoritative standard): Bhūriśravā challenges Arjuna for treating the Vṛṣṇi–Andhaka community as a moral authority, arguing that a censured or irregular group should not be used as a benchmark for right conduct.
In the heat of the Drona Parva conflict, Bhūriśravā addresses Arjuna with a sharp reproach. He disparages the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas as ‘vrātya’ and morally tainted, and questions why Arjuna would accept their example or counsel as decisive in matters of conduct.