Shloka 1
द्रोणानीक-व्यतिक्रमः — Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Break Through Droṇa’s Array
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! जब अर्जुनने सिंधुराज जयद्रथके वधकी प्रतिज्ञा कर ली, उस समय महाबाहु भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने अर्जुनसे कहा--
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! yadā arjunena sindhurāja-jayadrathasya vadha-pratijñā kṛtā, tadā mahābāhuḥ bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ arjunam uvāca—
Sañjaya sprach: O König! Als Arjuna das feierliche Gelübde abgelegt hatte, Jayadratha, den Herrscher von Sindhu, zu töten, da sprach der mächtigarmige Herr Śrī Kṛṣṇa zu Arjuna—
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of a pratijñā (vow): once a warrior publicly binds himself to a purpose, he must align that resolve with dharma and seek right counsel. Kṛṣṇa’s impending guidance signals that determination in war should be disciplined by wisdom, not driven by rage alone.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna has vowed to kill Jayadratha, the Sindhu king. At that critical moment, Kṛṣṇa speaks to Arjuna—introducing strategic and moral counsel that will shape the coming battle events.