Shloka 52
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
श्रुत्वापि परुषं वाक््यं सुशर्मा रथयूथप: । न चैनमब्रवीत् किंचिच्छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्,ऐसा कहते हुए शत्रुधाती अर्जुनके परुष वचनको सुनकर भी रथयूथपति सुशर्मा उनसे भला या बुरा कुछ भी न बोला
śrutvāpi paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ suśarmā rathayūthapaḥ | na cainam abravīt kiṃcit śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham ||
Sañjaya said: Even after hearing Arjuna’s harsh words, Suśarmā, the leader of a chariot-troop, did not reply to him at all—neither with something courteous nor with something offensive. The moment underscores a deliberate restraint amid the provocations of war, where silence can serve as self-control rather than weakness.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint in speech: even when provoked by harsh words, one may choose not to respond with either praise or insult. In a battlefield context, this suggests disciplined self-control and strategic composure rather than impulsive retaliation.
Sañjaya reports that Suśarmā, a commander of a chariot contingent, hears Arjuna’s severe remarks but does not answer him at all—neither politely nor rudely—indicating a moment of silence amid confrontation.