Shloka 20
देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically
वनवासे हानिर्वत्ते दर्शयेन्न धनंजय: । धनं चालभमानोजत्र नाद्य तत् क्षन्तुमहति,वनवासकी अवधि पूर्ण हुए बिना अर्जुन अपनेको प्रकट नहीं कर सकते थे। आज यदि वे यहाँ आकर अपना गोधन न पा सके, तो हमको क्षमा नहीं कर सकते
vanavāse hānir vṛtte darśayen na dhanañjayaḥ | dhanaṃ cālabhamāno 'dya tad na kṣantum arhati ||
Droṇa dit : «Tant que le terme de l’exil n’était pas pleinement accompli, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) ne pouvait se révéler. Mais si aujourd’hui, venu ici, il ne parvient pas à recouvrer ses biens (le bétail), il ne sera pas tenu de nous pardonner.»
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights accountability and the ethical weight of provoking a wronged hero: once the lawful term of concealment/exile is complete, Arjuna may act openly, and if his rightful property is denied, he is not obliged to pardon the offenders.
Droṇa assesses the situation during the Virāṭa episode: Arjuna could not reveal himself before the exile’s term ended, but now, if Arjuna comes seeking the seized cattle/wealth and is thwarted, the Kauravas should expect his uncompromising retaliation.