Shloka 21
नील किं बहुभिर्दग्वैस्तव योधे: शरार्चिषा । मयैकेन हि युध्यस्व क्रुद्ध: प्रहर चाशु माम्,“नील! तुमको बाणोंकी ज्वालासे इन बहुत-से योद्धाओंको दग्ध करनेसे क्या लाभ? तुम अकेले मुझसे ही युद्ध करो और कुपित होकर मेरे ऊपर शीघ्र प्रहार करो”
nīla kiṁ bahubhir dagdhvais tava yodhaiḥ śarārcīṣā | mayaikena hi yudhyasva kruddhaḥ prahara cāśu mām ||
Sañjaya said: “O Nīla, what is the use of scorching these many warriors with the flame of arrows? Fight with me alone. In anger, strike me quickly.” In the heat of battle, the challenge redirects violence from the many to a single, willing opponent—an appeal to martial propriety and focused combat rather than indiscriminate slaughter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within war, the verse gestures toward a code of conduct: redirecting aggression from indiscriminate harm to a direct duel with an equal, emphasizing accountability, courage, and restraint in the use of force.
In the midst of battle, Sañjaya reports a taunt/challenge addressed to the warrior Nīla: instead of burning down many fighters with a barrage of flaming arrows, Nīla is urged to face a single opponent and strike him directly and swiftly.