Shloka 27
यशोमानौ वर्धयन् पाण्डवानां पुराभिनच्छिशुपालं समीक्ष्य । यस्य सर्वे वर्धयन्ति सम मान॑ करूषराजप्रमुखा नरेन्द्रा:,करूषराज आदि सब नरेश जिसका सम्मान बढ़ाते थे, उस शिशुपालकी ओर दृष्टिपात करके पाण्डवोंके यश और मानकी वृद्धिके उद्देश्यसे श्रीकृष्णने उसे पहले ही मार डाला अहं पश्चादर्जुनमभ्यरक्ष॑ माद्रीपुत्रो भीमसेनो5प्यरक्षत् गाण्डीवधन्वा शत्रुसड्घानुदस्य स्वस्त्यागमत् कच्चिदेनं स्मरन्ति उस युद्धमें मैंने पीछे रहकर यज्ञके द्वारा अर्जुनकी रक्षा की थी और भीमसेनने नकुल तथा सहदेवका संरक्षण किया था। गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनने शत्रुओंके समुदायको मार गिराया था और स्वयं सकुशल लौट आये थे। क्या कौरव कभी उनकी याद करते हैं?
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
yaśomānau vardhayan pāṇḍavānāṃ purābhinac chiśupālaṃ samīkṣya |
yasya sarve vardhayanti samaṃ mānaṃ karūṣarājapramukhā narendrāḥ ||
ahaṃ paścād arjunam abhyarakṣaṃ mādrīputro bhīmaseno 'py arakṣat |
gāṇḍīvadhanvā śatrusaṅghān udasya svasty āgamat kaccid enaṃ smaranti ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeking to enhance the fame and honor of the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa, after casting his glance upon Śiśupāla—whom kings such as the ruler of Karūṣa and other sovereigns alike were accustomed to honor—had earlier already slain him. In that battle I remained behind and protected Arjuna by means of sacrificial rites; and Bhīmasena, the son of Mādrī, also guarded (the others). Arjuna, bearer of the Gāṇḍīva, struck down the assembled hosts of enemies and returned safely. Do the Kauravas ever remember him?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor (māna) and fame (yaśas) are shown as outcomes of righteous protection and strategic action: Kṛṣṇa removes a threat to uphold the Pāṇḍavas’ standing, while Arjuna’s valor and the others’ protective roles—supported even by ritual safeguarding—illustrate that success in dharmic conflict depends on coordinated duty, not solitary heroism. The closing question challenges the Kauravas’ moral memory and gratitude.
Vaiśampāyana recounts that Kṛṣṇa had earlier slain Śiśupāla, a king honored by many rulers, with the intent of increasing the Pāṇḍavas’ prestige. He then recalls a battle context in which he protected Arjuna through sacrificial/ritual means, Bhīma guarded the others, and Arjuna with the Gāṇḍīva defeated enemy forces and returned safely—followed by a pointed query: do the Kauravas remember Arjuna’s deeds?