Shloka 376
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
अकाम इव बीभत्सुरिदं वचनमत्रवीत् । भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके ऐसा कहनेपर अर्जुनने मुँह नीचे किये तिरछी दृष्टिसे देखते हुए अनिच्छुककी भाँति उनसे इस प्रकार कहा--
akāma iva bībhatsur idaṁ vacanam atravīt | bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇe evaṁ kahane para arjunane mukhaṁ nīce kṛtvā tiracchī dṛṣṭyā paśyan anicchukasya bhāvena tebhyaḥ evaṁ uvāca—
Sañjaya said: As though unwilling, Arjuna (Bībhatsu) spoke these words. When the Blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa had spoken thus, Arjuna—lowering his face and looking sideways—addressed Him in a manner like one reluctant to speak, revealing inner conflict and moral hesitation on the eve of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological tension before righteous action: even a virtuous warrior may feel reluctance and shame when confronted with the gravity of violence, and such hesitation becomes the ground for counsel on dharma and right conduct.
Sañjaya narrates that after Kṛṣṇa’s words, Arjuna responds hesitantly—head lowered and gaze averted—signaling discomfort and inner turmoil as he prepares to speak, setting up the next exchange in the dialogue.