Shloka 66

Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals

Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness

Devanagari script

शस्त्र चाहं रणे जहां श्रुत्वा तु महदप्रियम्‌ । श्रद्धेयवाक्यात्‌ पुरुषादेतत्‌ सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते,यदि मैं किसी विश्वसनीय पुरुषसे युद्ध-भूमिमें कोई अत्यन्त अप्रिय समाचार सुन लूँ तो हथियार नीचे डाल दूँगा। यह मैं तुमसे सच्ची बात कह रहा हूँ

Transliteration

śastraṃ cāhaṃ raṇe jahyāṃ śrutvā tu mahad apriyam | śraddheyavākyāt puruṣād etat satyaṃ bravīmi te ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “If, on the battlefield, I were to hear some exceedingly unwelcome news from a man whose word is trustworthy, I would lay down my weapons. This I tell you as the truth.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'śastram', 'definition': 'weapon

• arms'}, {'term': 'raṇe', 'definition': 'in battle

• on the battlefield'}, {'term': 'jahyām', 'definition': 'I would abandon

• I would cast aside'}, {'term': 'śrutvā', 'definition': 'having heard'}, {'term': 'mahat', 'definition': 'great

• exceedingly'}, {'term': 'apriyam', 'definition': 'unpleasant

• grievous'}, {'term': 'śraddheya-vākyāt', 'definition': 'from one whose speech is credible/trustworthy'}, {'term': 'puruṣāt', 'definition': 'from a man/person'}, {'term': 'etat', 'definition': 'this'}, {'term': 'satyam', 'definition': 'truth

• truthful statement'}, {'term': 'bravīmi', 'definition': 'I say

• I declare'}, {'term': 'te', 'definition': 'to you'}]

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• śastra (weapons)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of trustworthy speech: credible testimony can morally and psychologically disarm even a warrior. It also underscores Yudhiṣṭhira’s commitment to truth and his sensitivity to grievous news, showing how dharma and conscience can override martial impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in the context of battlefield deliberation, stating that if he hears extremely distressing news from a reliable person, he would abandon his weapons. He emphasizes that he is speaking truthfully, revealing his inner disposition amid the pressures of war.