Shloka 2
भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः
Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief
अस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले कि च न: क्षममच्युत । कथं च वर्तमाना वै स्वधर्मान्न च्यवेमहि,“अच्युत! इस वर्तमान समयमें हमारे लिये क्या करना उचित है? हम कैसा बर्ताव करें? जिससे अपने धर्मसे नीचे न गिरें
asminn abhyāgate kāle kiṃ ca naḥ kṣamam acyuta | kathaṃ ca vartamānā vai svadharmān na cyavema hi ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Acyuta, now that this critical time has arrived, what course is proper for us? How should we conduct ourselves so that we do not fall away from our own dharma?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In moments of upheaval, one should seek the course that is kṣama—ethically fitting—and act so as not to deviate from svadharma (one’s rightful duty and moral station). The verse frames dharma as a standard for decision-making under pressure.
As the situation reaches a decisive point, a speaker addresses Kṛṣṇa as Acyuta and asks for guidance: what should be done now, and how should they behave so that their conduct remains aligned with their own dharma.