Shloka 22
त्रैलोक्यहेतोर्न जहेत् स्वधर्म सर्वे न तस्मान्निहता रणे5स्मिन् । क्षिप्रं कुरून् याहि कुरुप्रवीर विजित्य गाश्च प्रतियातु पार्थ: । मा ते स्वको<र्थों निपतेत मोहात् तत् संविधातव्यमरिष्टबन्धम्,'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”
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
trailokya-hetor na jahet svadharmaṁ sarve na tasmān nihatā raṇe 'smin |
kṣipraṁ kurūn yāhi kuru-pravīra vijitya gāś ca pratiyātu pārthaḥ |
mā te svako 'rtho nipatet mohāt tat saṁvidhātavyam ariṣṭa-bandham ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “For the sake of the three worlds’ sovereignty he would not abandon his own dharma; therefore, in this battle he did not slay all of us. O foremost hero of the Kurus, go quickly back to the Kuru land. Let Pārtha too return after winning the cattle. Do not let your own interest fall to ruin through delusion; you must arrange what is safe and beneficial, free from harm.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest possible gain (symbolized by ‘sovereignty over the three worlds’) should not tempt one to abandon svadharma. Ethical restraint—especially in violence—marks true righteousness, and practical decisions should be made without moha so that one’s welfare is not destroyed by confused judgment.
The speaker explains that Arjuna did not kill everyone in the clash because he would not forsake dharma even for supreme power. He urges the Kuru hero to withdraw quickly to Kuru territory, and says Arjuna should return after securing the cattle, warning against letting self-interest be ruined through delusion and advising a safe, well-considered course.