Shloka 117
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
निहनिष्याम्यमित्रांस्ते न तवास्ति पराजय: । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि पर्याश्वासय वाहिनीम्
nihaniṣyāmy amitrāṁs te na tavāsti parājayaḥ | satyaṁ te pratijānāmi paryāśvāsaya vāhinīm ||
Sañjaya said: “I shall strike down your foes; for you there is no defeat. This I pledge to you as truth—go, reassure and steady the army.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a leader’s duty to uphold morale through truthful assurance and firm resolve: courage is strengthened when promises are grounded in satya (truth) and directed toward stabilizing the collective (the vāhinī).
In the midst of the Kurukṣetra war, Sañjaya voices a confident pledge of victory over enemies and urges that the army be reassured—an attempt to prevent panic and restore fighting spirit.