Shloka 263
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
अत्र यन्मन्यसे प्राप्तं तच्छीघ्रं सम्प्रधारय । “यदि भीमसेन मारे गये अथवा रथहीन कर दिये गये तो अर्जुन अवश्य मुझपर आक्रमण करेंगे
atra yan manyase prāptaṃ tac chīghraṃ sampradhāraya | yadi bhīmasena māre gataḥ athavā rathahīnaḥ kṛto 'bhavat tarhi arjunaḥ avaśyaṃ mayi ākramaṇaṃ kariṣyati, yat mama adhikaṃ śreyaḥ bhaviṣyati | tvaṃ yat iha ucitaṃ manyase tat śīghraṃ niścitya vada ||
Sañjaya said: “Consider at once what you judge to be the right course here. For if Bhimasena is slain, or even deprived of his chariot, Arjuna will surely attack me—and that, for my part, would be the better outcome. Therefore decide quickly and tell me what you deem proper in this situation.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the pressure of war, one must quickly discern the most fitting course (ucita) by weighing consequences; even painful outcomes are evaluated through the lens of duty and strategic necessity, showing how dharma in battle often involves rapid, responsible decision-making.
Sanjaya reports a speaker urging swift deliberation: if Bhima is killed or made chariotless, Arjuna will inevitably retaliate by attacking the speaker; the speaker considers that confrontation preferable and asks for an immediate decision on what should be done.