Shloka 71
कर्णनिधनवृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् | Reporting Karṇa’s Fall to Yudhiṣṭhira
अस्मिंस्तु मम संकल्पे ब्रूहि किंचिदनुग्रहम् । इदं वा परमनत्रैव शृणु हृत्स्थं विवक्षितम्
asmiṁstu mama saṅkalpe brūhi kiñcid anugraham | idaṁ vā paramantraiva śṛṇu hṛtsthaṁ vivakṣitam |
Arjuna sprach: „In diesem meinem Entschluss sage mir einen Akt der Gnade — einen Weg, mein Gelübde zu wahren, ohne dass ich meinen eigenen Bruder töten muss. Oder höre noch einmal diese höchste Sache, die in meinem Herzen ruht und die ich hier aussprechen will.“
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: fidelity to one’s vow (saṅkalpa) must be balanced against higher ethical duties—especially the grave sin and emotional rupture implied by harming one’s own brother. Arjuna seeks a compassionate solution that preserves truthfulness without violating fraternal and moral restraint.
In the midst of the war narrative, Arjuna speaks about a mental vow and declares that he does not consider Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira fit to be slain. He asks for guidance—an ‘anugraha’—to protect his pledge without committing fratricide, and he prepares to voice a crucial thought held in his heart.