Shloka 59
यदि वा द्विपदां श्रेष्ठ द्रोणं मानयतो गुरुम् । अश्वत्थाम्नि कृपा ते$स्ति कृपे वाचार्य गौरवात्,“कमलनयन नरश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन! मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ गुरु द्रोणाचार्यका सम्मान करते हुए तुम्हारे हृदयमें यदि अश्वत्थामाके प्रति दया है अथवा आचार्योचित गौरवके कारण कृपाचार्यके प्रति कृपाभाव है, यदि माता कुन्तीके अत्यन्त पूजनीय बन्धु-बान्धवोंके प्रति आदरका भाव रखते हुए तुम कृतवर्मापर आक्रमण करके उसे यमलोक भेजना नहीं चाहते तथा माता माद्रीके भाई, मद्रदेशीय जनताके अधिपति, राजा शल्यको भी तुम दयावश मारनेकी इच्छा नहीं रखते तो न सही, किंतु पाण्डवोंके प्रति सदा पापबुद्धि रखनेवाले इस अत्यन्त नीच कर्णको तो आज अपने पैने बाणोंसे मार ही डालो
sañjaya uvāca | yadi vā dvipadāṃ śreṣṭha droṇaṃ mānayato gurum | aśvatthāmni kṛpā te 'sti kṛpe vācārya-gauravāt ||
Sañjaya said: “O best of men! If, while honoring Droṇa as your revered teacher, you feel compassion for Aśvatthāman; or if, out of the proper reverence due to a preceptor, you feel tenderness toward Kṛpa—then let that restraint stand.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, ethical restraint can arise from dharma-based relationships—especially reverence for one’s teacher (guru/ācārya) and compassion toward the teacher’s kin or fellow preceptors. The verse frames mercy not as weakness but as a moral consideration grounded in guru-honor.
Sañjaya addresses Arjuna, suggesting that if Arjuna’s respect for Droṇa makes him reluctant to harm Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, or if reverence for the preceptor’s status makes him reluctant to harm Kṛpa, that hesitation is understandable. The speech sets up a contrast between justified restraint and the demands of battle.