Shloka 8
अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः
Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution
इत्युक्त: प्रत्युवाचैनं प्रहसन्निव पाण्डव: । विघ्नकर्ता मया वार्य इति मे व्रतमाहितम्,उसके ऐसा कहनेपर पाण्घुपुत्र अर्जुनने उसे हँसते हुए-से इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया --नरेश्वर! मेरे बड़े भाईने मेरे लिये इस व्रतकी दीक्षा दिलायी है कि जो मेरे मार्गमें विघ्न डालनेको उद्यत हो, उसे रोको। निश्चय ही यह बात तुम्हें भी विदित है। अतः तुम अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार मुझपर प्रहार करो। मेरे मनमें तुमपर कोई रोष नहीं है”
ity uktaḥ pratyuvācainaṃ prahasann iva pāṇḍavaḥ | vighnakartā mayā vārya iti me vratam āhitam ||
Thus addressed, the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) replied to him, as if with a smile: “One who seeks to obstruct my course must be restrained by me—such is the vow enjoined upon me. Therefore, strike at me according to your strength; in my heart there is no anger toward you.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A warrior’s action can be ethically grounded when it is performed as a vowed duty rather than from personal anger: Arjuna frames resistance to obstruction as an enjoined vrata, emphasizing restraint, clarity of purpose, and absence of malice.
In the Ashvamedha campaign setting, Arjuna is challenged or confronted; he responds calmly—almost smiling—that his vow requires him to stop anyone who blocks his path, and he invites the other party to strike according to their strength while declaring he bears no personal resentment.