Shloka 15
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
अजुन उवाच विहाय कीर्ति विपुलं यशश्नव युद्धात् परावृत्य पलायसे किम् । न तेड्य तूर्याणि समाहतानि तथैव राज्यादवरोपितस्य
arjuna uvāca vihāya kīrtiṁ vipulaṁ yaśas ca nava yuddhāt parāvṛtya palāyase kim | na te ’dya tūryāṇi samāhatāni tathaiva rājād avaropitasya ||
Dijo Arjuna: «Abandonando tu gran fama y renombre, ¿por qué huyes tras volver la espalda a la batalla? Hoy no suenan tus tambores de victoria como antes. Aquí estoy para la guerra como el tercero de los Pāṇḍavas, obediente al rey Yudhiṣṭhira—al mismo a quien una vez despojaste de su reino. Vuelve, pues, y muéstrame el rostro para enfrentarte conmigo; recuerda la conducta que corresponde a un rey.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma: a ruler and warrior must uphold courage, face battle without disgraceful flight, and maintain conduct worthy of kingship; honor (kīrti/yaśas) is tied to steadfastness and responsibility.
Arjuna taunts and challenges a son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra who is retreating from combat, pointing out that the opponent’s victory-drums are silent and declaring himself ready to fight as a Pāṇḍava serving King Yudhiṣṭhira, whom the Kauravas had earlier deposed.