Shloka 21
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
त्वया च नैनां सफलां करोषि देवव्रतं यन्न निहंसि युद्धे । मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो भव मात्र वीर रक्ष स्वधर्म स्वकुलं यशश्नल
tvayā ca naināṁ saphalāṁ karoṣi devavrataṁ yan na nihansi yuddhe | mithyā-pratijño bhava mātra vīra rakṣa svadharma svakulaṁ yaśaś ca ||
«Et pourtant tu ne conduis pas ton vœu à son terme, puisque tu n’abats pas Devavrata (Bhīṣma) dans la bataille. Ne deviens pas, ô héros, un homme au serment mensonger. Protège ton dharma, ta lignée et ton honneur.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A vow made before elders and in public carries moral weight; failing to act in accordance with one’s declared commitment risks becoming 'mithyā-pratijña' (false-promised). The verse links personal integrity with kṣatriya-dharma, urging the warrior to uphold duty, protect lineage, and preserve honor.
Sañjaya rebukes a warrior who had earlier vowed to kill Bhīṣma (Devavrata) in battle. Seeing that Bhīṣma is not being slain, he presses the warrior to fulfill the pledge and not let the promise become empty, framing the issue as one of dharma, family standing, and fame.