Shloka 16
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
सर्वमूर्धाभिषिक्तानामाचार्यों ब्रह्म॒वित्तम: । अर्जुनस्य सुतं मूढं नायं हन्तुमिहेच्छति,ये सम्पूर्ण मूर्धाभिषिक्त राजाओंके आचार्य तथा सर्वश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मवेत्ता द्रोण अर्जुनके इस मूढ़ पुत्रको मारना नहीं चाहते हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
sarvamūrdhābhiṣiktānām ācāryo brahmavittamaḥ |
arjunasya sutaṃ mūḍhaṃ nāyaṃ hantum ihecchati ||
Sañjaya said: Droṇa—preceptor of all the consecrated kings and the foremost knower of Brahman—does not wish to slay here Arjuna’s deluded son. The statement underscores a moral hesitation in the midst of battle: even a warrior-teacher, though engaged in war, may restrain himself from killing a misguided youth, especially when bound by the ethics of the guru’s role and the weight of spiritual knowledge.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within righteous warfare, ethical restraint can arise from one’s role and inner values: a revered teacher and spiritual knower may hesitate to kill a misguided youth, highlighting limits on violence and the moral weight of intention.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa, famed as the royal preceptor and a foremost spiritual knower, is unwilling to kill Arjuna’s son on the battlefield, indicating a moment of reluctance or mercy amid the conflict.