Shloka 20
Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa
Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition
एते मया महाघोरा: संग्रामा: पर्युपासिता: । न चापि विगततज्ञानो<भूतपूर्वो5स्मि पाण्डव,'ये बड़े-बड़े भयानक युद्ध मैंने देखे हैं, उनमें भाग लिया है, परंतु पाण्डुनन्दन! आजसे पहले कभी भी मैं इस प्रकार अचेत नहीं हुआ था
ete mayā mahāghorāḥ saṅgrāmāḥ paryupāsitāḥ | na cāpi vigatatjñāno bhūtapūrvo ’smi pāṇḍava ||
I have witnessed and taken part in many exceedingly dreadful battles; yet, O son of Pāṇḍu, never before have I fallen into such a loss of awareness—this bewilderment is unprecedented for me.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that even a seasoned warrior can be overwhelmed when the crisis is not merely physical danger but moral shock and grief. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical realism: courage in battle does not immunize one against inner collapse, and acknowledging such vulnerability becomes a step toward seeking right counsel and restoring dharmic clarity.
Arjuna addresses a Pāṇḍava (a son of Pāṇḍu), stating that although he has endured many horrific wars, he has never before experienced such a loss of awareness. The line conveys a moment of intense psychological and ethical disturbance, marking a turning point where the external battlefield is eclipsed by an internal crisis.