Shloka 4
ननु त्वया महाबाहो प्रतिज्ञातं वृकोदर
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | nanu tvayā mahābāho pratijñātaṃ vṛkodara, dharmaputro mahābāhur vilalāpa suvistaram |
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Ô Vṛkodara aux bras puissants, n’as-tu pas prononcé ce vœu solennel ?» Ainsi le Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira), aux bras puissants, se lamenta longuement. Voyant ses frères gisant à terre et les serments du guerrier comme rendus vains, il fut submergé de chagrin et d’angoisse ; et ses paroles se tournèrent vers le poids moral des promesses faites au nom du dharma et de l’honneur du sang.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical gravity of a pratijñā (solemn vow): in dharma-centered life, promises bind one’s honor and purpose, and their apparent frustration becomes a source of moral anguish—especially when tied to protecting family and upholding kṣatriya responsibility.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, overwhelmed by sorrow, addresses Bhīma (Vṛkodara) and reminds him of a vow he had made; Yudhiṣṭhira then laments at length, implying that the fall of his brothers makes their aims and pledges seem futile.