Shloka 16
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
युधिष्ठिरस्यास्मि निदेशकारी पार्थस्तृतीयो युधि संस्थिती5स्मि । तदर्थमावृत्य मुखं प्रयच्छ नरेन्द्रवृत्तं समर धार्तराष्ट्र
arjuna uvāca | yudhiṣṭhirasya asmi nideśakārī pārthas tṛtīyo yudhi saṃsthito 'smi | tad-artham āvṛtya mukhaṃ prayaccha narendra-vṛttaṃ smara dhārtarāṣṭra ||
Arjuna said: “I act under Yudhiṣṭhira’s command; I am the third Pāṇḍava, standing firm in battle. Therefore, turn back and show your face to meet me, O Dhārtarāṣṭra. Remember the conduct befitting a king—do not seek safety in flight when honor and duty call you to stand and fight.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds kṣatriya-dharma and rāja-dharma: a warrior-king should not abandon the battlefield out of fear, and must maintain honor through steadfastness; Arjuna also models disciplined obedience by acting as Yudhiṣṭhira’s appointed agent.
Arjuna addresses a Dhārtarāṣṭra warrior who is retreating, declaring his own identity as the third Pāṇḍava acting under Yudhiṣṭhira’s command, and challenges the opponent to turn back and fight while recalling the proper conduct expected of a king.