Shloka 496
शमीवृक्षस्थायुधप्रकाशनम् / Revelation and Identification of the Weapons on the Śamī Tree
यन्ता भव नरश्रेष्ठ योत्स्येडहं कुरुभि: सह । “नरश्रेष्ठट तुम केवल मेरे सारथि बनकर बैठे रहो। इन कौरवोंके साथ युद्ध तो मैं करूँगा”
yantā bhava naraśreṣṭha yotsyeḍahaṃ kurubhiḥ saha |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Be my charioteer, O best of men. Remain seated in that role; it is I who will fight these Kurus.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights taking direct responsibility for one’s rightful duty (especially in a martial context) while honoring the complementary duties of others—one fights, another drives—each role supporting the larger ethical order (dharma).
A warrior addresses a renowned man as ‘best of men’ and asks him to serve as charioteer, declaring that he himself will engage the Kurus in combat, signaling readiness for confrontation and clear division of roles on the battlefield.