Shloka 21
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
न त्वेष बीभत्सुरलं नृशंसं कर्तु न पापे5स्य मनो विशिष्टम्,'ये अर्जुन कभी निर्दयताका व्यवहार नहीं कर सकते। इनका मन कभी पापाचारमें प्रवृत्त नहीं होता। ये त्रिलोकीके राज्यके लिये भी अपना धर्म नहीं छोड़ सकते। यही कारण है कि इन्होंने इस युद्धमें हम सबके प्राण नहीं लिये। कुरुकुलके प्रमुख वीर! अब तू शीघ्र ही कुरुदेशको लौट चल। अर्जुन भी गायोंको जीतकर लौट जायूँ। अब मोहवश तेरा अपना स्वार्थ भी नष्ट न हो जाय, इसका ध्यान रख। सबको वही काम करना चाहिये, जिससे अपना कल्याण हो”
na tveṣa bībhatsur alaṁ nṛśaṁsaṁ kartuṁ na pāpe 'sya mano viśiṣṭam
Vaiśampāyana said: “But this Arjuna (Bībhatsu) is not the sort to commit cruel, inhuman deeds. His mind is not inclined toward sin. Even for sovereignty over the three worlds he would not abandon his dharma. That is why, in this conflict, he did not take the lives of us all. O foremost hero of the Kuru line, return quickly to the land of the Kurus; Arjuna too will return after winning back the cattle. Take care that, through delusion, your own self-interest is not ruined. One should undertake only that action which leads to one’s welfare.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral character and dharma restrain even a powerful warrior: Arjuna is portrayed as incapable of cruelty and unwilling to abandon righteousness even for supreme worldly gain; therefore one should choose actions that lead to true welfare rather than be driven by delusion or short-term advantage.
Vaiśampāyana explains that Arjuna did not slaughter everyone in the encounter because his nature is not cruel and his mind does not turn to sin; he urges a prompt return to Kurudeśa and notes that Arjuna will return after recovering the cattle, warning against losing one’s own interest through मोह (delusion).