Shloka 4
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
ततः किरीटी संचिन्त्य तेषां तत्र चिकीर्षितम् । वारयामास तान् वीरान् सान्त्वपूर्वमरिंदम:
tataḥ kirīṭī sañcintya teṣāṃ tatra cikīrṣitam | vārayāmāsa tān vīrān sāntvapūrvam arindamaḥ ||
Alors Arjuna, le héros au diadème, réfléchit à ce que ces guerriers projetaient d’accomplir en ce lieu. Ayant compris leur intention secrète, le dompteur des ennemis se mit à les retenir de combattre, les apaisant et les persuadant d’abord par des paroles douces et conciliantes—choisissant l’œuvre de paix plutôt que la violence immédiate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even for a warrior famed for defeating enemies, dharma includes restraint: before resorting to force, one should understand others’ intentions and attempt sāntva—peaceful persuasion—so that violence is used only when truly unavoidable.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna perceives what the warriors are about to do and, reading their mood and purpose, begins to stop them from entering battle, first using calming and conciliatory speech.