Shloka 46
अर्जुनस्य सैन्धवाभिमुखगमनम् तथा विन्दानुविन्दयोर्वधः
Arjuna’s advance toward Saindhava and the fall of Vinda–Anuvinda
इमां चाप्यपरां भूय: प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत,अब आपलोग पुनः मेरी यह दूसरी प्रतिज्ञा भी सुन लें। यदि इस पापी जयद्रथके मारे जानेसे पहले ही सूर्यदेव अस्ताचलको पहुँच जायूँगे तो मैं यहीं प्रजजलित अग्निमें प्रवेश कर जाऊँगा
imāṃ cāpy aparāṃ bhūyaḥ pratijñāṃ me nibodhata | yadi pāpinaḥ jayadrathasya māraṇāt pūrvaṃ sūryadevaḥ astācalaṃ prāpsyati tarhi aham ihaiva prajvalitāyām agnau praviśyāmi ||
Arjuna said: “Hear now yet another vow of mine. If, before that sinful Jayadratha is slain, the Sun-god reaches the western mountain and sets, then I shall, on this very spot, enter the blazing fire.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the gravity of a warrior’s pledged word (pratijñā): integrity and accountability are treated as non-negotiable, even at the cost of one’s life. It also shows how dharma in a martial context can demand extreme resolve and personal consequence for failure.
Arjuna publicly declares a second, harsher vow tied to a strict time limit: Jayadratha must be slain before sunset. If the Sun sets first, Arjuna will enter a blazing fire, making the day’s battle a race against time and intensifying pressure on both armies.