Shloka 13
त॑ दृष्टवा विस्मयं जम्मुर्गान्धारा: सर्व एव ते । इच्छता तेन न हतो राजेत्यसि च त॑ विदु:,यह देखकर समस्त गान्धारोंको बड़ा विस्मय हुआ और वे सब-के-सब यह समझ गये कि अर्जुनने जान-बूझकर गान्धारराजको जीवित छोड़ दिया
taṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṁ jagmur gāndhārāḥ sarva eva te | icchatā tena na hato rājety asi ca taṁ viduḥ ||
Seeing this, all the Gandhāras were struck with astonishment. They understood that the king had not been slain because Arjuna deliberately wished to spare him—recognizing in that restraint a conscious choice rather than inability, and an ethical act of mercy amid conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights intentional restraint as a moral choice: sparing an enemy can be recognized as deliberate compassion and self-control, not weakness, aligning power with dharma.
The Gandhāras witness that their king remains alive and are amazed; they conclude that Arjuna consciously chose not to kill him.