Shloka 11
Uttarā-Pratigrahaṇa and Abhimanyu–Uttarā Vivāha
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 67
उत्तर उवाच यत् ते कृतं कर्म न पारणीयं तत् ते कर्म कर्तु मम नास्ति शक्ति: । नत्वां प्रवक्ष्यामि पितु: सकाशे यावन्न मां वक्ष्यसि सव्यसाचिन्,क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्ता विदेशस्था विचेतस: । जब कौरव-दलके लोग चले गये या इधर-उधर सब दिशाओंमें भाग गये, उस समय बहुत-से कौरवसैनिक जो घने जंगलमें छिपे हुए थे, वहाँसे निकलकर डरते-डरते अर्जुनके पास आये। उनके मनमें भय समा गया था। वे भूखे-प्यासे और थके-माँदे थे। परदेशमें होनेके कारण उनके हृदयकी व्याकुलता और बढ़ गयी थी। वे उस समय केश खोले और हाथ जोड़े हुए खड़े दिखायी दिये उत्तरने कहा--सव्यसाचिन्! आपने जो पराक्रम किया है, वह दूसरेके लिये असम्भव है। वैसा अद्भुत कर्म करनेकी मुझमें शक्ति नहीं है; तथापि जबतक आप मुझे आज्ञा न देंगे, तबतक पिताजीके निकट आपके विषयमें मैं कुछ भी नहीं कहूँगा
uttara uvāca yat te kṛtaṁ karma na pāraṇīyaṁ tat te karma kartu mama nāsti śaktiḥ | na tvāṁ pravakṣyāmi pituḥ sakāśe yāvan na māṁ vakṣyasi savyasācin | kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntā videśasthā vicetasaḥ |
Uttara said: “The deed you have accomplished is beyond the power of others; I do not have the strength to perform such an extraordinary act. Yet I will not speak about you to my father until you yourself instruct me, O Savyasācin.” (At this time, the Kaurava soldiers—frightened, hungry, thirsty, and exhausted—emerged from hiding in the dense forest and approached Arjuna with folded hands, their distress heightened by being in a foreign land.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and disciplined speech: Uttara recognizes Arjuna’s unmatched prowess, admits his own limitations, and commits to discretion—he will not report the matter to his father until Arjuna authorizes it. Ethical restraint (self-control in speech) accompanies admiration for true excellence.
After Arjuna’s victory, the Kaurava troops—terrified and depleted—come out from hiding and approach him submissively. In this setting, Uttara addresses Arjuna, praising his extraordinary feat and promising not to reveal Arjuna’s identity or deeds to King Virāṭa until Arjuna gives permission.