Shloka 4
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
एनं हत्वा निहन्तासि पुन: संशप्तकानिति । वाक्यान्ते प्रापयत् पार्थ दण्डधारान्तिकं प्रति,“अत: पहले इसका वध करके तुम पुनः संशप्तकोंका संहार करना।' इतना कहते- कहते श्रीकृष्णने अर्जुनको दण्डधारके निकट पहुँचा दिया
enaṁ hatvā nihantāsi punaḥ saṁśaptakān iti | vākyānte prāpayat pārtha daṇḍadhārāntikaṁ prati ||
Sañjaya said: “Having slain this one, you will then destroy the Saṁśaptakas again.” As these words were being spoken, Śrī Kṛṣṇa brought Arjuna (Pārtha) close to Daṇḍadhāra. The moment underscores a warrior’s dharma: immediate, necessary action in battle is to be taken without losing sight of the larger obligation—protecting one’s side by neutralizing urgent threats and then returning to the vowed task.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of war, dharma requires clear prioritization: address the immediate danger first (‘slay this one’), then return to the broader pledged duty (the Saṁśaptakas). The verse highlights disciplined action guided by responsibility rather than impulse.
Sañjaya narrates that Kṛṣṇa, while directing Arjuna, urges him to first kill the present opponent and then resume the fight against the Saṁśaptakas; simultaneously, Kṛṣṇa maneuvers the chariot to bring Arjuna near Daṇḍadhāra.