Shloka 16
Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)
स जानंश्वरितं कृत्स्नं वृष्णीनां पृतनामुखे । अपयानं पुन: सौते मैवं कार्षी: कथंचन,'सूतनन्दन! युद्धके मुहानेपर डटे हुए वृष्णिकुलके वीरोंका सम्पूर्ण चरित्र तुझसे अज्ञात नहीं है; अतः तू फिर कभी किसी तरह भी युद्धसे न लौटना
sa jānann āśvaritaṁ kṛtsnaṁ vṛṣṇīnāṁ pṛtanāmukhe | apayānaṁ punaḥ saute maivaṁ kārṣīḥ kathaṁcana ||
Wahai putra sūta, engkau mengetahui sepenuhnya keberanian dan tata laku para pahlawan Vṛṣṇi ketika berdiri di muka pertempuran. Maka, wahai sūta, jangan sekali-kali lagi mundur dan berbalik dari medan laga—dengan cara apa pun jangan lakukan itu.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges steadfastness in righteous combat: knowing the valor and duty of the Vṛṣṇi heroes at the battlefront, one should not succumb to fear or retreat, but uphold honor and responsibility.
Vāyu addresses a charioteer’s son, reminding him that he already knows the full martial character of the Vṛṣṇis in the thick of battle, and commands him not to withdraw again from the battlefield.