Shloka 52
Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)
पाण्डवेषु सदा पाप नित्यं जिद्ठां प्रवर्तसे । स्ववीर्याद् यः पराक्रम्य पाप आह्वयते परान् । अभीत: पूरयन् वाक्यमेष वै क्षत्रिय: पुमान्,“पापी दुर्योधन! तू पाण्डवोंके साथ सदा कुटिल बर्ताव करता आ रहा है। पापात्मन्! जो किसीसे भयभीत न होकर अपने वचनोंका पालन करता है और अपने ही बाहुबलसे पराक्रम प्रकट करके शत्रुओंको युद्धके लिये बुलाता है, वही पुरुष क्षत्रिय है
sañjaya uvāca | pāṇḍaveṣu sadā pāpa nityaṃ jihmāṃ pravartase | svavīryād yaḥ parākramya pāpa āhvayate parān | abhītaḥ pūrayan vākyam eṣa vai kṣatriyaḥ pumān |
Sañjaya said: “O sinner, you have always behaved with constant crookedness toward the Pāṇḍavas. O wicked one! The true kṣatriya is that man who, fearless, keeps his pledged word and, relying on his own strength, displays valor and openly challenges his foes to battle.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines kṣatriya conduct ethically: a true warrior is fearless, keeps his pledged word, relies on his own strength, and challenges opponents openly—contrasted with deceitful, crooked behavior toward the Pāṇḍavas.
Sañjaya delivers a sharp moral rebuke, condemning persistent duplicity toward the Pāṇḍavas and asserting the standard of honorable kṣatriya behavior—truthfulness, courage, and open challenge in war.