Shloka 22
संजय उवाच एता वाच: परुषा: सव्यसाची स्थिरप्रज्ञ: श्रावयित्वा तु रूक्षा: बभूवासौ विमना धर्मभीरु: कृत्वा प्राज्ञ: पातकं किंचिदेवम्,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! सव्यसाची अर्जुन धर्मभीरु हैं। उनकी बुद्धि स्थिर है तथा वे उत्तम ज्ञानसे सम्पन्न हैं। उस समय राजा युधिष्ठिरको वैसी रूखी और कठोर बातें सुनाकर वे ऐसे अनमने और उदास हो गये, मानो कोई पातक करके इस प्रकार पछता रहे हों
sañjaya uvāca | etā vācaḥ paruṣāḥ savyasācī sthiraprajñaḥ śrāvayitvā tu rūkṣāḥ | babhūvāsau vimanā dharmabhīruḥ kṛtvā prājñaḥ pātakaṃ kiñcid evam ||
Sañjaya said: O King, Arjuna—renowned as Savyasācī—steadfast in understanding, wise, and fearful of wrongdoing, after making Yudhiṣṭhira hear such harsh and abrasive words, became dejected and downcast, as though a discerning man were repenting after committing some sin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a righteous and wise person can err in speech under pressure; dharma includes accountability for one’s words. Arjuna’s immediate remorse highlights ethical self-correction—recognizing harm caused by harsh speech and feeling responsibility as if for a moral fault.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Arjuna, after addressing Yudhiṣṭhira with rough and severe words, becomes dispirited. His conscience (fear of adharma) makes him feel as though he has committed a sin, indicating regret and inner conflict amid the war’s tensions.