Shloka 32
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
त्वं वै विगर्हयात्मानमात्मानं यो न रक्षसि । कथं करिष्यसे वीर यो वा त्वां संश्रयेज्जन:,तुम अपनी ही निन््दा करो, जो कि अपनी भी रक्षातक नहीं कर सकते। वीरवर! फिर जो तुम्हारे आश्रयमें होगा, उसकी रक्षा कैसे कर सकोगे?
tvaṃ vai vigarhayātmānam ātmānaṃ yo na rakṣasi | kathaṃ kariṣyase vīra yo vā tvāṃ saṃśrayej janaḥ ||
“You are indeed censuring yourself—since you cannot even protect your own self. O hero, how then will you be able to protect anyone who comes to you seeking refuge and support?”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral authority to protect others presupposes self-mastery and self-preservation; one who cannot safeguard oneself is ethically unfit to promise protection to dependents or refugees.
Arjuna addresses a warrior, challenging his capacity to act as a protector: if he cannot even secure his own safety and steadiness, Arjuna questions how he could defend anyone who relies on him for refuge amid the pressures of battle.