Shloka 16

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

संजय उवाच इत्युक्तो वासुदेवेन पाण्डव: संशितव्रत:,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! भरतनन्दन! भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णके ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तम एवं कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले पाण्डुकुमार कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरने जलमें स्थित हुए आपके महाबली पुत्रसे हँसते हुए-से कहा--

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ity ukto vāsudevena pāṇḍavaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Thus addressed by Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), the Pāṇḍava—steadfast in his austere vows—responded, as if with a smile, to your mighty son who was standing in the water.

Word by Word

संजयःSanjaya

उवाचsaid

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been addressed / spoken to

वासुदेवेनby Vāsudeva (Krishna)

पाण्डवःthe Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu)

संशितव्रतःof firm/austere vows

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address: mahārāja)

Bharatanandana (epithet of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Kaurava prince in the water (Duryodhana, by episode context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a battlefield setting, righteous conduct is shaped by disciplined vows and wise counsel; speech and demeanor (such as a controlled, almost smiling composure) can reflect inner restraint and adherence to dharma rather than mere hostility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that after Kṛṣṇa speaks, Yudhiṣṭhira—known for firm vows—addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s powerful son who is positioned in the water, setting up the ensuing exchange in the episode where Duryodhana is confronted while hiding/standing in a watery place.