Shloka 7
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
स हि वीर: प्रयास्यन् वै धर्मराजेन वारितः । हतबान्धवा न ते पार्थ हन्तव्या: पार्थिवा इति,वीर अर्जुनने ऐसा इसलिये कहा कि चलते समय धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने यह कहकर मना कर दिया था कि “कुन्तीनन्दन! जिन राजाओंके भाई-बन्धु कुरुक्षेत्रके युद्धमें मारे गये हैं, उनका तुम्हें वध नहीं करना चाहिये”
sa hi vīraḥ prayāsyan vai dharmarājena vāritaḥ | hatabāndhavā na te pārtha hantavyāḥ pārthivā iti ||
Vaiśampāyana said: As that hero Arjuna was setting out, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira restrained him, saying, “O Pārtha, you must not slay those kings whose kinsmen and brothers were killed in the war.” The counsel underscores a post-war ethic of restraint—avoiding further bloodshed against rulers already bereaved by Kurukṣetra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even for a victorious warrior, dharma may require restraint: those already devastated by war (bereaved rulers) should not be targeted again, emphasizing compassion and the prevention of needless violence.
As Arjuna prepares to depart on a mission, Yudhiṣṭhira stops him and instructs him not to kill kings whose brothers and relatives have already been slain in the Kurukṣetra war.