Shloka 5
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
तिष्ठ ध्वं युद्धमनसो दर्प शमयितास्मि व: । एतावदुक्त्वा कौरव्यो रोषाद् गाण्डीवभूत् तदा,“मनमें युद्धका हौसला लेकर खड़े रहो। मैं तुम्हारा घमण्ड चूर किये देता हूँ। भारत! गाण्डीवधारी कुरुनन्दन अर्जुन शत्रुओंसे ऐसा वचन कहकर अपने बड़े भाईकी कही हुई बातें याद करने लगे। महात्मा धर्मराजने कहा था कि “तात! रणभूमिमें विजयकी इच्छा रखनेवाले क्षत्रियोंका वध न करना। साथ ही उन्हें पराजित भी करना।” इस बातको याद करके पुरुषप्रवर अर्जुन इस प्रकार चिन्ता करने लगे
tiṣṭha dhvaṁ yuddhamanasaḥ darpaṁ śamayitāsmi vaḥ | etāvad uktvā kauravyo roṣād gāṇḍīvabhūt tadā |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Stand firm with minds set on battle; I shall quell your arrogance.” Having spoken thus, the Kuru prince—his wrath rising—took up the Gāṇḍīva. Yet, as he faced the enemy, Arjuna recalled his elder brother Dharmarāja’s counsel: a kṣatriya who seeks victory should not slaughter those who are already subdued, and yet must still defeat them. Remembering this, the foremost of men began to reflect on how to uphold victory without violating righteousness.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, victory must be pursued within dharma: arrogance is to be checked, and a kṣatriya should avoid killing those already subdued while still accomplishing rightful defeat.
Arjuna challenges his opponents to stand ready for battle and vows to humble their pride, taking up the Gāṇḍīva in anger; immediately, he recalls Yudhiṣṭhira’s ethical instruction about restraint toward defeated foes and begins to deliberate how to act accordingly.