Shloka 3
अलायुधस्य भीमवधसंकल्पः
Alāyudha’s Resolve to Confront Bhīma
'राजेन्द्र! सौभाग्यसे आपका अभ्युदय हो रहा है। नरश्रेष्ठ. आपका शत्रु मारा गया। आपके छोटे भाईने अपनी प्रतिज्ञा पूरी कर ली, यह महान् सौभाग्यकी बात है' ।। स त्वेवमुक्त: कृष्णेन हृष्ट: परपुरंजय: । ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा रथादाप्लुत्य भारत
rājendra! saubhāgyena te abhyudayo bhavati. naraśreṣṭha! tava śatruḥ hataḥ. tava kaniyān bhrātā pratijñāṃ paripūritavān—etat mahatsaubhāgyam. sa tv evam uktaḥ kṛṣṇena hṛṣṭaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ. tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā rathād āplutya bhārata.
Sañjaya said: “O king, by good fortune your cause is rising. O best of men, your enemy has been slain. Your younger brother has fulfilled his vow—this is indeed a great stroke of fortune.” Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, the conqueror of enemy cities was filled with joy; then King Yudhiṣṭhira, O Bhārata, leapt down from his chariot—an outward sign of relief and renewed resolve amid the moral weight of war and vows kept.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of vows (pratijñā) in the Mahābhārata: success in war is framed not merely as victory, but as the fulfillment of a pledged duty, bringing both relief and responsibility. Fortune is acknowledged, yet human resolve and keeping one’s word remain central.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas’ situation has turned favorable: an enemy has been slain and the younger brother has completed his vow. Encouraged by Kṛṣṇa, the hero rejoices, and Yudhiṣṭhira physically leaps down from his chariot, signaling an emotional shift—relief and readiness amid the ongoing battle.