Shloka 22
अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः
Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution
विरथ॑ं विधनुष्कं च गदया परिवर्जितम् | सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक््यमब्रवीत् कपिकेतन:,जब मेघसन्धि रथ, धनुष और गदासे भी वंचित हो गया, तब कपिध्वज अर्जुनने उसे सान्त्वना देते हुए इस प्रकार कहा--
virathaṁ vidhanuṣkaṁ ca gadayā parivarjitam | sāntvapūrvam idaṁ vākyaṁ abravīt kapiketanāḥ ||
When he was left without a chariot, without a bow, and even deprived of his mace, Arjuna—whose banner bears the emblem of Hanumān—spoke to him with words of reassurance and consolation. The narrative highlights a warrior’s duty to temper victory with compassion, offering calming counsel rather than cruelty toward one who has been disarmed.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma requires restraint and humane conduct: when an opponent is disarmed and helpless, the righteous response is to avoid needless cruelty and to speak with calming, conciliatory words.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a combatant has become bereft of chariot, bow, and mace; at that moment Arjuna (Kapiketan, with Hanumān on his banner) addresses him with consoling speech, setting up a moment of ethical restraint amid conflict.