Shloka 12
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
अद्य ते5पचितिं कृत्वा शितैर्माधव सायकै: । तत्स्त्रियो नन्दयिष्यामि ये त्वया निहता रणे,“मधुकुलनन्दन! आज तीखे बाणोंसे तुम्हारी पूजा करके मैं उन वीरोंकी स्त्रियोंको आनन्दित करूँगा, जिन्हें रणभूमिमें तुमने मार डाला है
sañjaya uvāca | adya te 'pacitiṃ kṛtvā śitair mādhava sāyakaiḥ | tat striyo nandayiṣyāmi ye tvayā nihatā raṇe |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Mādhava, putra kebanggaan wangsa Madhu! Hari ini, dengan ‘menghormatimu’ lewat anak panahku yang tajam, aku akan menggembirakan para istri dari para kesatria yang telah kautewaskan di medan perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharmic language (apaciti, ‘honour’) can be weaponized to justify or intensify adharma. It warns that vengeance and taunting speech deepen suffering: instead of restoring balance, they aim to multiply grief—here, by targeting the emotional world of widows and families.
A warrior addresses Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava) with a taunt: he claims he will ‘pay respect’ to Kṛṣṇa using sharp arrows—i.e., by attacking him—and then ‘gladden’ the women of those Kṛṣṇa has caused to be slain, implying he will kill Kṛṣṇa (or Kṛṣṇa’s side) in retaliation and thereby give those women a cruel satisfaction.