Shloka 20
Pāṇḍya-vadha-anantaram Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Response and the Renewed Battle
अथार्जुनं प्राह दशाहनाथ: प्रमाद्यसे कि जहि योधमेतम् । कुर्यद्धि दोष समुपेक्षितो 5यं कष्टो भवेद् व्याधिरिवाक्रियावान्
athārjunaṃ prāha daśāhanāthaḥ pramādyase ki jahi yodham etam | kuryād dhi doṣa sam-upekṣito ’yaṃ kaṣṭo bhaved vyādhir ivākriyāvān ||
Then the lord of the ten days addressed Arjuna: “Why do you grow careless? Strike down this warrior! If this fault is ignored, it will become grievous—like a disease that turns severe when left untreated.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Negligence in one’s duty, if tolerated, grows into a serious harm—just as an untreated illness worsens. The verse urges timely, decisive action guided by responsibility.
Sañjaya reports that the ‘lord of the ten days’ (Bhīṣma) addresses Arjuna, rebuking him for momentary carelessness and urging him to strike down the opposing warrior before the lapse becomes dangerous.