Shloka 9
त॑ युध्यमान राजान क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितम्,क्षत्रियधर्ममें स्थित होकर युद्ध करनेवाले उस राजासे अर्जुनने इस प्रकार कहा--“वीर! तुम्हें युद्ध करनेसे कोई लाभ नहीं है। महाराज युधिष्ठिरकी यह आज्ञा है कि मैं राजाओंका वध न करूँ। अतः तुम युद्धसे निवृत्त हो जाओ जिससे आज तुम्हारी पराजय न हो'
vaiśampāyana uvāca | taṁ yudhyamānaṁ rājānaṁ kṣatradharme vyavasthitam arjunenaivam uktaḥ— “vīra! na te yuddhena kaścid arthaḥ. mahārāja-yudhiṣṭhirasya eṣā ājñā— na rājñāṁ vadhaṁ kariṣyāmi. tasmād yuddhān nivartasva, yathā adya tava parājayo na bhavet.”
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing that king, steadfast in the warrior’s code and intent on fighting, Arjuna addressed him thus: “Hero, there is no gain for you in this battle. King Yudhiṣṭhira has commanded me not to slay kings. Therefore withdraw from combat, so that you do not suffer defeat today.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within kṣatriya-dharma, violence is bounded by higher ethical constraints: Arjuna restrains himself out of obedience to Yudhiṣṭhira’s injunction, showing that rightful command and dharma can limit the pursuit of victory.
A king confronts Arjuna in battle. Arjuna warns him that fighting is futile because Arjuna has been ordered by Yudhiṣṭhira not to kill kings; he urges the opponent to withdraw to avoid defeat.