Shloka 27

प्रतिज्ञानं हुविज्ञानं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिण:

pratijñānaṃ huvijñānaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

મનીષીઓ કહે છે કે પ્રતિજ્ઞા માત્ર ઉચ્ચારેલું વચન નથી; તે સુવિચારપૂર્વક સમજીને લેવાયેલો દૃઢ સંકલ્પ છે।

प्रतिज्ञानम्a promise; a vow
प्रतिज्ञानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रतिज्ञा (प्रति + √ज्ञा)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
हुविज्ञानम्knowledge/understanding of invocation (hu); ritual know-how
हुविज्ञानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहुविज्ञान (hu + vijñāna)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
प्रवदन्तिthey declare; they say
प्रवदन्ति:
TypeVerb
Root√वद्
FormPresent (Lat), Third, Plural
मनीषिणःthe wise (men); sages
मनीषिणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनीषिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

A vow is ethically binding only when it is grounded in clear understanding and discernment; the wise treat promises as accountable commitments, not impulsive words.

In Sañjaya’s report amid the grim aftermath of the night-raid episode of the Sauptika Parva, he frames the discussion in terms of vows and responsibility, emphasizing how the wise interpret and judge pledged intentions.