Shloka 45
Saṃśaptakas in Candrārdha-vyūha; Arjuna’s Devadatta and the Traigarta Rout
Chapter 17
हते तु पुरुषव्याप्रे रणे सत्यजिति प्रभो । सर्वैरपि समेतैर्वा न स्थातव्यं कथंचन,प्रभो! यदि पुरुषसिंह सत्यजित् रणभूमिमें वीरगतिको प्राप्त हो जायँ तो आप सब लोगोंके साथ होनेपर भी किसी तरह युद्धभूमिमें न ठहरियेगा
hate tu puruṣavyāpre raṇe satyajiti prabho | sarvair api sametair vā na sthātavyaṃ kathaṃcana, prabho ||
Arjuna said: “O lord, if Satyajit—the lion among men—is slain in battle, then even if all of you are gathered together, you must not remain on the battlefield in any way. Withdraw at once.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes prudent command ethics in war: when a key champion falls, continuing to hold position—despite numerical support—can become reckless. Arjuna frames withdrawal as a duty of responsible leadership, prioritizing preservation of forces over stubborn valor.
Arjuna addresses a leader respectfully (“prabho”) and issues a conditional instruction: if Satyajit is killed in the fighting, the allied group should not remain on the battlefield under any circumstance, even if they are all together—implying an urgent retreat or regrouping.