Shloka 74
कर्णनिधनवृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् | Reporting Karṇa’s Fall to Yudhiṣṭhira
त॑ हन्यां चेत् केशव जीवलोके स्थाता नाहं कालमप्यल्पमात्रम् । ध्यात्वा नूनं होनसा चापि मुक्तो वध राज्ञो भ्रष्टवीर्यो विचेता:
taṁ hanyāṁ cet keśava jīvaloke sthātā na ahaṁ kālam api alpamātram | dhyātvā nūnaṁ hīnasā cāpi mukto vadhaṁ rājño bhraṣṭavīryo vicetāḥ ||
Arjuna sprach: „O Keśava, wenn ich ihn tötete, könnte ich in dieser Welt nicht einmal einen Augenblick am Leben bleiben. Selbst wenn ich irgendwie von der Sünde befreit würde, könnte ich doch nicht weiterleben, nachdem ich den Tod des Königs erwogen habe. Gewiss bin ich jetzt verwirrt darüber, was zu tun ist—der Tapferkeit beraubt und beinahe ohne Besinnung.“
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the primacy of conscience and dharma over mere victory: even imagining an unrighteous act—killing one’s rightful king/elder—destroys inner stability. It shows that freedom from external consequences does not erase moral injury; the mind cannot live with adharma.
Arjuna addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) in a moment of intense ethical turmoil. He declares that killing Yudhiṣṭhira is unthinkable: he would not be able to live even briefly, and even if absolved of sin he could not endure the very thought of such a deed. He confesses confusion and loss of valor, seeking guidance.