Shloka 37
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा विराट: परवीरघाती रणान्तरे शत्रुचमूं प्रवेष्टा । मत्स्यै: सार्थमनृशंसरूपै- स्तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्
sañjaya uvāca |
yadā virāṭaḥ paravīraghātī raṇāntare śatrucamūṃ praveṣṭā |
matsyaiḥ sārtham anṛśaṃsarūpais tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro 'nutapsyat ||
Sañjaya sprach: Wenn König Virāṭa—der Bezwinger feindlicher Helden—mitten auf dem Schlachtfeld in das Heer des Gegners eindringt, begleitet von den Matsya-Kriegern, sanftmütig und nicht grausam von Wesen, dann wird in diesem Krieg der Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras (Duryodhana) vor Reue brennen, da er die bittere Folge erkennt, den Streit entfacht zu haben.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical consequence of initiating unjust conflict: when formidable yet humane allies join the fray, the aggressor (Duryodhana) is foretold to suffer inner torment, suggesting that adharma in politics and war culminates in remorse and suffering.
Sañjaya describes a future battlefield scene: King Virāṭa, leading Matsya warriors, will penetrate the enemy formation. This impending turn of events is presented as a cause for Duryodhana’s later anguish, as he recognizes the disastrous outcome of the war he helped bring about.