Shloka 39
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
एवं ते विनिवृत्तास्तु युद्धाद् युद्धविशारदा: । यथावासं ययु: सर्वे विस्मिता राजसत्तमा:,इस प्रकार श्रीकृष्णके समझानेसे वे सभी युद्धकुशल श्रेष्ठ नरेश युद्धसे निवृत्त हो गये और विस्मित होकर अपने-अपने डेरोंको चले गये
evaṁ te vinivṛttās tu yuddhād yuddhaviśāradāḥ | yathāvāsaṁ yayuḥ sarve vismitā rājasattamāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus, those foremost kings—skilled in the arts of war—desisted from battle; and, astonished, they all departed to their respective encampments. The moment underscores how wise counsel can restrain even the most battle-ready rulers, turning them from immediate violence toward order and self-control.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even those most capable of fighting should be able to restrain themselves when right counsel prevails; dharma in governance includes the capacity to step back from needless violence.
After being persuaded (as implied by the context), the war-skilled kings abandon the prospect of battle and return, surprised, to their respective camps.