Shloka 13
Saubha-nipātana: Kṛṣṇa’s Counter to Śālva’s Māyā
Book 3, Chapter 23
तान् धर्मकामार्थविदुत्तमौजा बीभत्सुरुच्चै: सहितानुवाच । आदास्यते वासमिमं निरुष्य वनेषु राजा द्विषतां यशांसि,धर्म, अर्थ और कामके ज्ञाता उत्तम पराक्रमी अर्जुनने उन सब प्रजाजनोंको सम्बोधित करके उच्च स्वरसे कहा--'राजा युधिष्ठिर इस वनवासकी अवधि पूर्ण करके शत्रुओंका यश छीन लेंगे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
tān dharmakāmārthavid uttamaujā bībhatsur uccaiḥ sahitān uvāca |
ādāsyate vāsam imaṃ nirūṣya vaneṣu rājā dviṣatāṃ yaśāṃsi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Arjuna—known as Bībhatsu, of supreme valor and versed in dharma, artha, and kāma—addressed the gathered people in a loud voice: “When this term of forest-dwelling is complete, King Yudhiṣṭhira will strip away the glory of his enemies.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous action as balanced by the three aims—dharma, artha, and kāma—while emphasizing steadfast endurance: after fulfilling the imposed term of exile, a just king may legitimately reclaim honor and restore moral order by overcoming hostile forces.
Arjuna addresses the assembled people and publicly reassures them that Yudhiṣṭhira will complete the forest-dwelling and then defeat his enemies, depriving them of their fame—signaling confidence in the Pandavas’ eventual return and restoration.