Shloka 72
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
यत् त्वया कथित पूर्व न योत्स्यामीति केशव । मिथ्यावादीति लोकास्त्वां कथयिष्यन्ति माधव
yat tvayā kathita pūrva na yotsyāmīti keśava | mithyāvādīti lokās tvāṁ kathayiṣyanti mādhava ||
કેશવ! તમે પહેલાં કહ્યું હતું—“હું યુદ્ધ નહીં કરું”—એ વચનનું રક્ષણ કરો. નહિ તો, માધવ! લોકો તમને મિથ્યાવાદી કહેશે.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of one’s declared word: public trust and moral authority depend on truthfulness and consistency. A vow, once announced, becomes a matter of dharma and reputation; breaking it invites the charge of falsehood.
Sañjaya reports a pointed appeal directed at Kṛṣṇa (addressed as Keśava/Mādhava): since Kṛṣṇa had earlier stated that he would not fight, he is urged to maintain that stance, or else people will accuse him of being a liar.