Shloka 13

Devanagari script

स तथा कुरु वार्ष्णेय यथा त्वयि मनो मम । अर्जुनस्य यथा सत्या प्रतिज्ञा स्थाच्चिकीर्षिता,4वार्ष्णेय! हमारा मन आपमें ही लगा हुआ है। अतः आप ऐसा करें, जिससे अर्जुनकी अभीष्ट प्रतिज्ञा सत्य होकर रहे

Transliteration

sa tathā kuru vārṣṇeya yathā tvayi mano mama | arjunasya yathā satyā pratijñā sthāc cikīrṣitā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa), act in such a way that my mind may remain fixed upon you, and that Arjuna’s intended vow may stand firm and become true.”

Word by Word

सःhe/that (you)

तथाthus, in that manner

कुरुdo (you)

वार्ष्णेयO Vārṣṇeya (descendant of Vṛṣṇi, i.e., Kṛṣṇa)

यथाso that, as

त्वयिin you

मनःmind

ममof me, my

अर्जुनस्यof Arjuna

यथाso that, as

सत्याtrue

प्रतिज्ञाvow, promise

स्थात्may remain/stand

चिकीर्षिताintended, wished to be done

वार्ष्णेयO Vārṣṇeya

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa)

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of a warrior’s vow (pratijñā): it should be protected and fulfilled truthfully, especially in a dharmic struggle. It also reflects devotion and reliance on Kṛṣṇa’s wise action to uphold what is right and to steady the mind amid crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of the Drona Parva’s intense battle events, Sañjaya addresses Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya), urging him to act so that Arjuna’s intended pledge is not thwarted and becomes true—implying a critical moment where strategy and divine counsel are needed to secure the vow’s fulfillment.