Shloka 18
जयद्रथवध-प्रतिज्ञा
Arjuna’s Vow to Neutralize Jayadratha
परेभ्यो5प्यभयार्थिभ्यो यो ददात्यभयं विभु: । तस्यास्माभिन शकितत्त्रातुमप्यात्मजो बली,“जो लोभरहित, बुद्धिमान, लज्जाशील, क्षमावान्, रूपवान, बलवान, सुन्दर शरीरधारी, दूसरोंको मान देनेवाले, प्रीतिपात्र, वीर तथा सत्यपराक्रमी हैं, जिनके कर्मोकी देवतालोग भी प्रशंसा करते हैं, जिनके कर्म सबल एवं महान् हैं, जिन पराक्रमी वीरने निवातकवचों तथा कालकेय नामक दैत्योंका विनाश किया था, जिन्होंने आँखोंकी पलक मारते-मारते हिरण्यपुरनिवासी इन्द्रशत्रु पौलोम नामक दानवोंका उनके गणोंसहित संहार कर डाला था तथा जो सामर्थ्यशाली अर्जुन अभयकी इच्छा रखनेवाले शत्रुओंको भी अभयदान देते हैं, उन्हींके बलवान् पुत्रकी भी हमलोग रक्षा नहीं कर सके
sañjaya uvāca |
parebhyo 'py abhayārthibhyo yo dadāty abhayaṃ vibhuḥ |
tasyāsmābhir na śakitaṃ trātum apy ātmajo balī ||
Sañjaya said: Even to enemies who seek safety, that mighty lord grants fearlessness. Yet we were not able to protect even his powerful son. (Thus Sañjaya underscores Arjuna’s magnanimity—his capacity to offer refuge even in war—while lamenting the failure to save Abhimanyu, highlighting the tragic moral tension between kṣatriya combat and the duty to protect.)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts noble conduct with tragic outcome: a truly great warrior may grant refuge even to enemies who seek safety, yet the chaos and moral compromises of war can still lead to the failure to protect the innocent or the beloved—here, even the hero’s own son.
Sañjaya, reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, laments that despite Arjuna’s renowned power and generosity (granting safety even to foes), the Kaurava side could not save even Arjuna’s strong son—an allusion to Abhimanyu’s being overwhelmed and slain in the battle.