Shloka 28
मुद्गलोपाख्यानम् — व्रीहिद्रोणदानं, दुर्वाससः परीक्षा, स्वर्गगुणप्रश्नः
Mudgala Episode: Rice-measure Charity, Durvāsas’ Test, Inquiry on Heaven
चित्रसेनस्तथोवाच सखायं युधि विद्धि माम् चित्रसेनमथालक्ष्य सखायं युधि दुर्बलम्,संजहूु: प्रद्गुतानश्वाञ्छरवेगान् धनूंषि च । चित्रसेनने उनसे कहा--'कुन्तीनन्दन! इस युद्धमें मुझे तुम अपना सखा चित्रसेन समझो।” यह सुनकर अर्जुनने चित्रसेनकी ओर दृष्टिपात किया। अपने सखाको युद्धमें अत्यन्त दुर्बल हुआ देख पाण्डवप्रवर अर्जुनने अपने धनुषपर प्रकट किये हुए उस दिव्यास्त्रका उपसंहार कर दिया। अर्जुनको अपना अस्त्र समेटते देख सब पाण्डवोंने भी दौड़ते हुए घोड़ोंको रोक लिया तथा वेगपूर्वक छूटनेवाले बाणों और धनुषोंका संचालन भी बंद कर दिया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | citrasenas tathovāca sakhāyaṃ yudhi viddhi mām | citrasenam athālakṣya sakhāyaṃ yudhi durbalam | saṃjahāra pradīptān aśvān charavegān dhanuṃṣi ca |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Citrasena spoke, “O son of Kuntī, in this battle know me as your friend—Citrasena.” Hearing this, Arjuna looked toward Citrasena. Seeing his friend become exceedingly weakened in the fight, the foremost of the Pāṇḍavas withdrew the divine weapon he had manifested upon his bow. When Arjuna was seen drawing back his weapon, all the Pāṇḍavas too reined in their charging horses and ceased the swift discharge of arrows and the use of their bows—choosing restraint once the truth of friendship was recognized.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid conflict, dharma includes discernment and restraint: once friendship and the other’s weakened state are recognized, Arjuna chooses to withdraw a divine weapon rather than press advantage, and the Pāṇḍavas follow by halting escalation.
Citrasena identifies himself to Arjuna as a friend in the midst of battle. Arjuna, seeing Citrasena weakened, retracts the divine weapon he had deployed; observing this, the other Pāṇḍavas stop their charge, rein in their horses, and cease shooting arrows.