इति सम कृष्णवचनात् प्रत्युच्चार्य युधिष्ठिरम् । बभूव विमना: पार्थ: किंचित् कृत्वेव पातकम्
iti sama-kṛṣṇa-vacanāt pratyuccārya yudhiṣṭhiram | babhūva vimanāḥ pārthaḥ kiñcit kṛtveva pātakam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Nachdem er Yudhiṣṭhira so mit ausgeglichenen, wohlabgewogenen Worten erwidert hatte, wurde Pārtha (Arjuna) niedergeschlagen, als hätte er eine geringe Verfehlung begangen.
संजय उवाच
Even when one speaks rightly or in a measured way, the ethical context matters: replying to an elder—especially in a crisis like war—can burden the conscience. The verse highlights inner accountability and the sensitivity required in speech (vāṅ-niyama) within dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after answering Yudhiṣṭhira with composed words, immediately feels dejected, as if he had committed a minor fault—suggesting tension between necessary counsel or rebuttal and reverence toward his elder brother.