Shloka 20
एष तिष्ठति कौन्तेय: संस्पृशन् गाण्डिवं धनु: । त॑ हनिष्यसि चेदद्य तन्न: श्रेयो भविष्यति,'ये कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन हाथमें गाण्डीव धनुष लिये हुए खड़े हैं। यदि तुम आज उनको मार डालोगे तो वह हमलोगोंके लिये श्रेयस्कर होगा
eṣa tiṣṭhati kaunteyaḥ saṁspṛśan gāṇḍīvaṁ dhanuḥ | taṁ haniṣyasi ced adya tan naḥ śreyo bhaviṣyati ||
“O son of Kuntī, here stands Arjuna, his hand upon the Gāṇḍīva bow. If you can slay him today, it will be for our highest good.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the war-time calculus of śreyaḥ (the ‘greater good’) as understood by combatants: removing the pivotal champion is seen as securing one’s side’s welfare. It also reflects the ethical strain of dharma-yuddha, where duty and survival can override personal sentiment.
Arjuna is identified on the battlefield, standing ready with his renowned bow Gāṇḍīva. The speaker urges that if he can be killed that very day, it would decisively benefit ‘us’—a tactical exhortation aimed at turning the battle by eliminating the foremost Pandava warrior.