Shloka 28
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
न हि शूरा: पलायन्ते शत्रून् दृष्टया कथठ्चन । ब्रृहि वा त्वं यया वृत्त्या शूर त्यजसि संगरम्,जो वास्तवमें शूरवीर हैं, वे शत्रुओंको देखकर किसी तरह भागते नहीं हैं। अपनेको शूर कहनेवाले सुयोधन! बताओ तो सही, तुम किस वृत्तिका आश्रय लेकर युद्ध छोड़ रहे हो
na hi śūrāḥ palāyante śatrūn dṛṣṭvā kathaṃcana | brūhi vā tvaṃ yayā vṛttyā śūra tyajasi saṅgaram ||
Sañjaya said: “True heroes do not flee in any manner upon seeing the enemy. Tell me, then—by what pretext or course of conduct do you, who call yourself a hero, abandon the battle?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a kṣatriya-ethical ideal: genuine valor is shown by steadfastness in the face of the enemy, and abandoning battle demands a morally credible justification—otherwise it is dishonor disguised as prudence.
Sañjaya reports a pointed rebuke directed at the one addressed as ‘śūra’ (contextually Suyodhana/Duryodhana): he challenges him for withdrawing from combat and demands to know what ‘vṛtti’ (line of conduct or pretext) he claims to justify leaving the battlefield.