Shloka 18
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
न ते पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतो वा पश्यामि दुर्योधन रक्षितारम् अपेहि युद्धात् पुरुषप्रवीर प्राणान् प्रियान् पाण्डवतोउद्य रक्ष
na te purastād atha pṛṣṭhato vā paśyāmi duryodhana rakṣitāram | apehi yuddhāt puruṣapravīra prāṇān priyān pāṇḍavato 'dya rakṣa ||
Arjuna sprach: „Duryodhana, ich sehe keinen Beschützer für dich — weder vor dir noch hinter dir. Darum, o Vornehmster der Männer, zieh dich aus dieser Schlacht zurück und rette heute dein teures Leben vor der Hand des Pāṇḍava.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic of frank counsel even toward an enemy: Arjuna openly warns Duryodhana that he stands without protection and urges him to withdraw to preserve life. It frames combat as a realm where courage includes clear speech and where the opponent is still addressed with honorific recognition (“foremost of men”).
In the Virāṭa episode’s climactic battle, Arjuna confronts Duryodhana and declares that no defender stands before or behind him. Arjuna then challenges him to leave the fight, warning that otherwise Duryodhana must face the Pāṇḍava’s (Arjuna’s) power and risk his life.