Shloka 32
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
तत् पापं सुमहत् कृत्वा प्रतियुद्धयस्व भारत । कथं हि त्वद्विधो मोहादू रोचयेत पलायनम्,“तुम जो कर्ण और सुबलपुत्र शकुनिका सहारा लेकर मोहवश अपने-आपको अजर- अमर-सा मान बैठे थे, अपनेको मनुष्य समझते ही नहीं थे, वह महान् पाप करके अब युद्ध क्यों नहीं करते? भारत! उठो, हमारे साथ युद्ध करो। तुम्हारे-जैसा वीर पुरुष मोहवश पीठ दिखाकर भागना कैसे पसंद करेगा?
tat pāpaṁ sumahat kṛtvā pratiyudhyasva bhārata | kathaṁ hi tvadvidho mohād rocayet palāyanam ||
Sañjaya said: “Having committed that exceedingly grave sin, now fight back, O Bhārata. For how could a man like you, deluded by infatuation, ever approve of fleeing from battle and turning his back?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames retreat from a righteous battlefield as ethically blameworthy for a kṣatriya: after a grave wrong has been done, one must face consequences with courage rather than seek escape under delusion (moha).
Sañjaya reports a sharp exhortation addressed to a Kuru warrior: after committing a serious fault, he is urged to stand and fight instead of fleeing, since such flight contradicts the honor expected of someone ‘like you’ (tvadvidhaḥ).