Shloka 21
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्वीमांश्व॒ धार्मिक: सत्यविक्रम: । राजंस्त्वमापदा55कृष्ट: कि करिष्यसि पाण्डव
mṛdur vadānyo hrīmāṁś ca dhārmikaḥ satyavikramaḥ | rājan tvam āpadā kṛṣṭaḥ kiṁ kariṣyasi pāṇḍava ||
Arjuna dijo: «Oh rey, eres de palabra suave, generoso y dueño de modestia; estás consagrado al dharma y tu valor se asienta en la verdad. Y, sin embargo, has sido arrojado a la calamidad. Oh hijo de Pāṇḍu, ¿qué harás allí?»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that personal virtues—gentleness, generosity, modesty, commitment to dharma, and truthful valor—are tested most sharply in times of calamity; ethical character must guide one’s response to crisis.
Arjuna addresses a king, praising his noble qualities but noting that he has fallen into misfortune, and asks what course of action he intends to take in that difficult situation.