Shloka 13
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
जयद्रथो जीवितार्थी गच्छमानो गृहान् प्रति । मयानार्येण संरुद्धो द्रोणात् प्राप्पाभयं सखे,“सखे! जयद्रथ अपनी जीवनरक्षाके लिये घरकी ओर पधार रहे थे, परंतु मुझ अधमने ही द्रोणाचार्यसे अभय पाकर उन्हें रोक लिया
sañjaya uvāca | jayadratho jīvitārthī gacchamāno gṛhān prati | mayānāryeṇa saṃruddho droṇāt prāpya abhayaṃ sakhe |
Sañjaya said: “O friend, Jayadratha, intent on saving his life, was making his way back toward his home. Yet I—acting ignobly—blocked him, after first obtaining assurance of safety from Droṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between noble conduct (ārya) and ignoble conduct (anārya) in war: even when one has secured a pledge of safety (abhaya) from an authority, using that protection to obstruct another can be framed as morally blameworthy.
Sañjaya reports that Jayadratha, trying to save himself, was retreating toward home; however, the speaker admits to stopping him, having first obtained assurance of safety from Droṇa—implying a tactical restraint carried out under the cover of promised protection.