Shloka 103
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
न हास्यते कर्म यथाप्रतिज्ञं पुत्रै: शपे केशव सोदरैश्न । अन्तं करिष्यामि यथा कुरूणां त्वयाहमिन्द्रानुज सम्प्रयुक्त:
na hāsyate karma yathāpratijñaṁ putraiḥ śape keśava sodaraiś ca | antaṁ kariṣyāmi yathā kurūṇāṁ tvayāham indrānuja samprayuktaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô Keśava, je n’abandonnerai pas le devoir que j’ai juré d’accomplir. Je le jure par mes fils et par mes frères. Ô Indrānuja (Upendra), dès lors que tu m’auras mis en mouvement—dès lors que j’aurai ton assentiment—je conduirai les Kaurava jusqu’à leur terme».
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds steadfastness to one’s vowed duty (pratijñā) and the moral weight of an oath. It also frames action in war as requiring legitimate authorization or alignment with a higher guiding principle (here addressed as Keśava/Upendra), emphasizing responsibility and resolve rather than impulsive violence.
A warrior-voice (reported by Sañjaya) declares unwavering commitment to a prior vow, swearing by his sons and brothers, and states that with Kṛṣṇa’s sanction/impulsion he will bring about the destruction of the Kauravas—signaling an escalation of determination within the Kurukṣetra conflict.