Shloka 30
जतुगृहदाहः — The Burning of the Lac House and the Pāṇḍavas’ Concealed Escape
तावुद्यतमहाचापौ कृप: शारद्वतोडब्रवीत् डन्दरयुद्धसमाचारे कुशल: सर्वधर्मवित्,उन दोनोंको विशाल धनुष उठाये देख द्वन्ड-युद्धकी नीति-रीतिमें कुशल और समस्त धर्मोके ज्ञाता शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्यने इस प्रकार कहा--
tāv udyata-mahā-cāpau kṛpaḥ śāradvato 'bravīt | dvandva-yuddha-samācāre kuśalaḥ sarva-dharma-vit ||
Seeing the two with their great bows raised and ready, Kṛpa—son of Śāradvata—who was skilled in the proper conduct of single combat and who knew the full range of dharma, spoke as follows. The narrative underscores that even in the heat of impending violence, warfare is to be governed by rule, restraint, and moral discernment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when conflict is imminent, action—especially warfare—should be guided by dharma: established rules, fairness in single combat, and moral restraint. Kṛpa’s authority as a 'sarva-dharma-vit' frames the coming events as subject to ethical norms, not mere impulse.
Two warriors are seen with their bows raised, poised for a duel. At that moment Kṛpācārya, renowned for knowing the proper code of single combat and for his grasp of dharma, begins to address them, setting up guidance or admonition about how the encounter should proceed.