Shloka 24
कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke
संशप्तकाश्न मे वध्या द्रौणिराह्मययते च माम्
sa jaya uv01ca |
sa aptak01b ca me vadhy01 dro i ir 01hvayate ca m01m |
"m01dhava! eka-ora tu me sa aptak01n01 vadha kartavya , dvit2by01m6 ca dro aputra a5bvatth01m01 yuddh01ya m01m 01hvayati |
ata atra me yat p6brva kartavya pr01pnoti, tad me br6bhi |
yadi tva samyak manyase, p6brvam utth01ya a5bvatth01mna eva 01tithya graha 2btu avasaro d2byat01m" ||
Sañjaya dit : Arjuna déclara : «Mādhava, d’un côté je dois abattre les Saṃsaptakas ; de l’autre, Aśvatthāmā, fils de Droṇa, me provoque au combat. Dis-moi donc quel devoir doit être accompli d’abord en ce lieu. Si tu le juges juste, que je me lève et que j’accepte d’abord l’“hospitalité” d’Aśvatthāmā — c’est-à-dire que je réponde à son défi avant toute chose.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When multiple obligations collide, one should seek wise counsel and prioritize the action that best aligns with dharma and immediate necessity, rather than acting from impulse or pride.
Arjuna faces two simultaneous pressures: the Sa aptakas must be dealt with, while Ashvatthama directly challenges him. He asks Krishna to decide which duty should be undertaken first, using the ironic phrase accept his hospitality to mean engage him in combat.