Shloka 28
लब्धसंज्ञो मुहूर्तेन कार्ष्णि: सारथिमब्रवीत् । अहो असाध्विदं सूत यद् रणान्मेऽपसर्पणम् ॥ २८ ॥
labdha-samjño muhūrtena kārṣṇiḥ sārathim abravīt aho asādhv idaṁ sūta yad raṇān me ’pasarpaṇam
Regaining consciousness in a moment, Pradyumna, Kṛṣṇa’s son, said to his charioteer, “O driver, this is disgraceful—that I have been taken away from the battlefield!”
FAQs
In this verse, Kārṣṇi (Sātyaki) calls retreat from the battlefield “asādhu”—improper—showing the Bhagavatam’s emphasis on steadfastness to one’s duty and honor in righteous combat.
After regaining consciousness, he reflects on what occurred—his withdrawal from the fight—and rebukes it as unbecoming, instructing his charioteer in line with a warrior’s dharma to stand firm rather than flee.
It encourages moral courage: when facing challenges, avoid abandoning responsibility out of fear or confusion, and return to one’s duty with clarity and integrity.