Shloka 21
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्वीमांश्व॒ धार्मिक: सत्यविक्रम: । राजंस्त्वमापदा55कृष्ट: कि करिष्यसि पाण्डव
mṛdur vadānyo hrīmāṁś ca dhārmikaḥ satyavikramaḥ | rājan tvam āpadā kṛṣṭaḥ kiṁ kariṣyasi pāṇḍava ||
Arjuna said: “O King, you are gentle in speech, generous, and possessed of modesty; you are devoted to dharma and your valor is grounded in truth. Yet you have been driven into calamity. O son of Pāṇḍu—what will you do there?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that personal virtues—gentleness, generosity, modesty, commitment to dharma, and truthful valor—are tested most sharply in times of calamity; ethical character must guide one’s response to crisis.
Arjuna addresses a king, praising his noble qualities but noting that he has fallen into misfortune, and asks what course of action he intends to take in that difficult situation.