Shloka 45

Devanagari script

समयस्तु कृत: कश्चिन्मम भीष्मेण संयुगे | मन्त्रयिष्ये तवार्थाय न तु योत्स्ये कथठ्चन

Transliteration

samayas tu kṛtaḥ kaścin mama bhīṣmeṇa saṁyuge | mantrayiṣye tavārthāya na tu yotsye kathaṁcana ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In the midst of battle, I have made a certain compact with Bhīṣma. For your sake I will offer counsel and devise measures, but I will not fight—under any circumstances.”

Word by Word

समयःagreement, pledge

तुbut, however

कृतःmade, done

कश्चित्some (one), a certain

ममof me, my

भीष्मेणby/with Bhishma

संयुगेin battle

मन्त्रयिष्येI shall advise/counsel

तवof you, your

अर्थायfor the sake (of), for benefit

नnot

तुbut

योत्स्येI shall fight

कथञ्चनin any way, at all

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical restraint amid warfare: even in a righteous conflict, one may bind oneself by a pledged agreement (samaya) and choose counsel over violence. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya action and personal vows, showing that dharma can involve self-limitation and fidelity to one’s word.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira declares that he has entered into a specific understanding with Bhīṣma during the battle. Because of that compact, he will support the other party through advice and planning, but he refuses to take up arms and fight.