Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā
यद्यहं व्यसनी वा स्यामशक्तो वा निवारणे । ततस्त्वयैवं कार्य स्यान्न तत्कार्य मयि स्थिते,उस समय अर्जुनके मनमें बड़ा क्लेश हुआ। उन्होंने भगवान् श्रीकृष्णसे इस प्रकार कहा--“अनघ! आपने तो प्रतिज्ञा की है कि मैं युद्ध न करके घोड़ोंको काबूमें रखूँगा-- केवल सारथिका काम करूँगा; किंतु कमलनयन! आप वैसी बात कहकर भी अपनी प्रतिज्ञाका पालन नहीं कर रहे हैं। यदि मैं संकटमें पड़ जाता अथवा अस्त्रका निवारण करनेमें असमर्थ हो जाता तो उस समय आपका ऐसा करना उचित होता। जब मैं युद्धके लिये तैयार खड़ा हूँ, तब आपको ऐसा नहीं करना चाहिये
yady ahaṃ vyasanī vā syām aśakto vā nivāraṇe | tatas tvayā evaṃ kārya syān na tat kārya mayi sthite ||
Sañjaya said: “If I were overwhelmed by calamity, or if I were incapable of warding off the enemy’s weapons, then it would be right for you to act in that way. But when I am standing ready for battle, you ought not to do so.” (In context, Arjuna’s distress is that Kṛṣṇa, who had vowed to remain only the charioteer, seems to be stepping beyond that vow; Arjuna frames the ethical boundary: intervention is justified only when the warrior is truly helpless.)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse draws an ethical line for intervention: extraordinary help is justified when one is truly incapacitated, but when one is capable and duty-bound, one should not shift responsibility or violate a pledged role. It highlights fidelity to vows and the warrior’s obligation to stand on his own strength while still acknowledging a place for rescue in genuine helplessness.
In the Drona Parva battle setting, Arjuna is distressed that Kṛṣṇa—who had promised to act only as his charioteer—appears to be acting beyond that limit. Arjuna argues that such action would be appropriate only if Arjuna were in dire trouble or unable to counter weapons; since he is ready to fight, Kṛṣṇa should not intervene in a way that seems to breach the vow.