Shloka 70
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
तत एवमुवाचार्त: क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणम्,उस समय श्रीकृष्णके नेत्र क्रोधसे व्याप्त हो रहे थे और वे फुफकारते हुए सर्पके समान लम्बी साँस खींच रहे थे। उनके सखा अर्जुन आर्तभावसे प्रेमपूर्वक बोले--“महाबाहो! लौटिये, अपनी प्रतिज्ञाको झूठी न कीजिये
tata evam uvācārtaḥ krodha-paryākulekṣaṇam | (śrī-kṛṣṇasya netre krodhena vyāpte bhavataḥ; saḥ phūtkārī sarpa iva dīrgha-niḥśvāsaṃ muñcan) | tasya sakhā arjunaḥ ārta-bhāvena premṇā uvāca— “mahābāho! nivartasva; sva-pratijñāṃ mṛṣā mā kṛthāḥ” |
Sañjaya said: Then, seeing him thus—his eyes clouded with anger—Kṛṣṇa seemed like a hissing serpent, drawing long, forceful breaths. At that moment his friend Arjuna, distressed yet speaking with affection, pleaded: “Mighty-armed one, turn back. Do not make your own vow prove false.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical weight of a pratijñā (solemn vow) and the need to restrain anger even in war. Arjuna appeals to Kṛṣṇa’s integrity: righteous action includes keeping one’s word and not letting wrath drive one into a course that compromises dharma.
Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa becoming intensely angry—his gaze disturbed, breathing like a hissing serpent. Seeing this, Arjuna, as Kṛṣṇa’s close friend, speaks affectionately yet urgently, asking him to turn back and not allow his vow to be broken or rendered futile.