Shloka 40
Saṃśaptakas in Candrārdha-vyūha; Arjuna’s Devadatta and the Traigarta Rout
Chapter 17
एष च भ्रातृभि: सार्थ सुशर्मा55ह्वयते रणे । वधाय सगणपस्यास्य मामनुज्ञातुमरहसि,“यह सुशर्मा अपने भाइयोंके साथ आकर मुझे युद्धके लिये ललकार रहा है, अतः गणोंसहित इस सुशर्माका वध करनेके लिये मुझे आज्ञा देनेकी कृपा करें
sañjaya uvāca |
eṣa ca bhrātṛbhiḥ sārthaṃ suśarmā hvayate raṇe |
vadhāya sagaṇasyāsya mām anu jñātum arhasi ||
Sañjaya said: “Behold, Suśarmā, together with his brothers, is challenging me on the field of battle. Therefore, grant me leave to slay Suśarmā along with all his followers.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key wartime ethic in the epic: even in violence, action is framed within hierarchy and responsibility—seeking authorization before undertaking a decisive killing, and treating combat as a formal challenge that must be answered according to kṣatriya norms.
Sañjaya reports that Suśarmā has arrived with his brothers and is openly challenging for combat. The speaker (as conveyed in the line) requests permission from a superior to engage and kill Suśarmā along with his supporting fighters.