Shloka 22
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
त्रैलोक्यहेतोर्न जहेत् स्वधर्म सर्वे न तस्मान्निहता रणे5स्मिन् । क्षिप्रं कुरून् याहि कुरुप्रवीर विजित्य गाश्च प्रतियातु पार्थ: । मा ते स्वको<र्थों निपतेत मोहात् तत् संविधातव्यमरिष्टबन्धम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
trailokya-hetor na jahet svadharmaṁ sarve na tasmān nihatā raṇe 'smin |
kṣipraṁ kurūn yāhi kuru-pravīra vijitya gāś ca pratiyātu pārthaḥ |
mā te svako 'rtho nipatet mohāt tat saṁvidhātavyam ariṣṭa-bandham ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Selbst um der Herrschaft über die drei Welten willen würde er seine eigene Dharma nicht aufgeben; darum hat er in dieser Schlacht nicht uns alle erschlagen. O vornehmster Held der Kurus, geh rasch zurück ins Kuru-Land. Auch Pārtha soll heimkehren, nachdem er das Vieh errungen hat. Lass nicht zu, dass dein eigener Vorteil durch Verblendung ins Verderben stürzt; du musst das anordnen, was sicher und heilsam ist, frei von Schaden.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest possible gain (symbolized by ‘sovereignty over the three worlds’) should not tempt one to abandon svadharma. Ethical restraint—especially in violence—marks true righteousness, and practical decisions should be made without moha so that one’s welfare is not destroyed by confused judgment.
The speaker explains that Arjuna did not kill everyone in the clash because he would not forsake dharma even for supreme power. He urges the Kuru hero to withdraw quickly to Kuru territory, and says Arjuna should return after securing the cattle, warning against letting self-interest be ruined through delusion and advising a safe, well-considered course.