Shloka 24
शमीवृक्षस्थायुधप्रकाशनम् / Revelation and Identification of the Weapons on the Śamī Tree
अहमप्यत्र सैरन्ध्रया ख्याता सारथ्यकर्मणि । न च शक्ष्याम्यनिर्जित्य गा: प्रयातुं पुरं प्रति,मैं भी सैरन्ध्रीके द्वारा सारथ्यके कार्यमें कुशल बतायी गयी हूँ, अतः अब गौओंको जीतकर वापस लिये बिना मैं नगरमें नहीं जा सकूँगी
aham apy atra sairandhryā khyātā sārathyakarmaṇi | na ca śakṣyāmy anirjitya gāḥ prayātuṃ puraṃ prati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “I too am known here—through the maid Sairandhrī—as skilled in the work of a charioteer. Therefore I cannot return to the city without first defeating (the enemy) and winning back the cattle.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic ethic of responsibility and honor: one should not withdraw from a rightful task—especially the protection and recovery of communal wealth (cattle)—without first making a sincere effort to overcome the threat. Reputation for skill implies accountability to act when needed.
In the context of the cattle-recovery conflict in Virāṭa’s realm, the speaker asserts that she is reputed (through Sairandhrī’s testimony) to be competent in charioteering, and therefore refuses to return to the city until the cattle have been won back by defeating the opposing force.