Shloka 45
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
तद् यथा प्रेक्षमाणानां सूतपुत्रं महारथम् | न हन्यात् पाण्डव: संख्ये तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्,“अत: हमलोगोंके देखते-देखते युद्धमें पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन-जैसे भी महारथी सूतपुत्रको न मार सकें, वैसी नीतिसे काम लो”
tad yathā prekṣamāṇānāṃ sūtaputraṃ mahāratham | na hanyāt pāṇḍavaḥ saṅkhye tathā nītir vidhīyatām |
Sañjaya said: “So contrive it that, even while we are watching, the Pāṇḍava in the thick of battle may not be able to slay the great chariot-warrior, the Sūta’s son. Let the strategy be arranged accordingly.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti (strategic counsel) in war: leaders may seek to shape circumstances so that a key warrior is protected from a superior opponent. It raises an ethical tension typical of the epic—pragmatic battlefield strategy versus ideals of fair combat and dharma.
Sañjaya reports counsel urging that arrangements be made so that Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) cannot kill Karṇa (the Sūta’s son), even in full view of the army—indicating an urgent tactical concern to shield Karṇa from Arjuna in the ongoing battle.