Shloka 11
अर्जुनागमनम्
Arjuna’s Arrival and Reunion on the Sacred Mountain
कृत्यकाल उपस्थास्य इति चोक््त्वा घटोत्कच: । राक्षसै: सह सर्वश्च पूर्वमेव गत: प्रभो,राजन! घटोत्कच यह कहकर कि “मैं आवश्यकताके समय स्वयं उपस्थित हो जाऊँगा' सब राक्षसोंके साथ पहले ही चला गया था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kṛtyakāla upasthāsyā iti coktvā ghaṭotkacaḥ | rākṣasaiḥ saha sarvaś ca pūrvam eva gataḥ prabho, rājan |
Vaiśampāyana said: Having declared, “At the time of need I shall present myself,” Ghaṭotkaca—along with all the rākṣasas—had already departed earlier, O lord, O king. The statement underscores a pledge of timely aid: strength is not merely possessed but ethically bound to appear when duty calls.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and loyalty are framed as a vow of timely responsibility: one who offers help must be ready to appear precisely when necessity arises (kṛtyakāla), not merely express goodwill.
Ghaṭotkaca assures that he will come whenever an urgent need arises, and then he departs in advance together with the rākṣasas, indicating a strategic withdrawal with a standing commitment to return when summoned.