Shloka 18
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
'प्रिय सैनिको! मैं आपलोगोंसे सच्ची बात कहता हूँ। यदि ये युद्धमें मारनेके लिये उद्यत हो जायूँ तो इनके सामने यमराज भी युद्ध नहीं कर सकता; फिर दूसरा कोई मनुष्य तो इनके सामने टिक ही कैसे सकता है? ।। अर्जुनस्य सुतं त्वेष शिष्यत्वादभिरक्षति । शिष्या: पुत्राश्न दयितास्तदपत्यं च धर्मिणाम्,'परंतु ये अर्जुनके पुत्रकी रक्षा करते हैं; क्योंकि अर्जुन इनके शिष्य हैं। शिष्य और पुत्र तो प्रिय होते ही हैं। उनकी संतानें भी धर्मात्मा पुरुषोंको प्रिय जान पड़ती हैं
priya sainikāḥ! ahaṃ yuṣmān satyaṃ vacmi. yadi te yuddhe hantum udyatā bhaveyuḥ, teṣāṃ purato yamarājo 'pi yuddhe na śaknoti; anyo manuṣyaḥ kathaṃ nu teṣāṃ purataḥ tiṣṭhet? arjunasya sutaṃ tv eṣa śiṣyatvād abhirakṣati. śiṣyāḥ putrāś ca dayitās; tadapatyaṃ ca dharmiṇām api priyam eva bhavati.
Sanjaya said: “Dear soldiers, I tell you the truth. If they were to set themselves fully to killing in this war, then even Yama, the Lord of Death, could not withstand them in battle—how then could any other man stand before them? Yet they are protecting Arjuna’s son, because Arjuna is their disciple. Disciples and sons are naturally dear; and to righteous men, even the children of those dear ones are cherished.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma and relational obligations temper raw martial power: even in war, righteous people may restrain themselves out of loyalty to a disciple and affection for a disciple’s child, showing that ethical bonds (guru–śiṣya, familial affection) can guide conduct amid violence.
Sanjaya addresses the soldiers, emphasizing the overwhelming prowess of certain warriors—so great that even Yama would not face them—yet notes that they are deliberately protecting Arjuna’s son because Arjuna is their disciple, and disciples (and their children) are dear to the righteous.