Shloka 573
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
अनुयाय महाबाहु: फाल्गुनो वाक्यमत्रवीत् । अब उसमें केवल भागनेका उत्साह रह गया था, अतः वह वनकी ओर भागा। सिन्धुराजको केवल भागनेमें ही पराक्रम दिखाता देख महाबाहु अर्जुन उसका पीछा करते हुए बोले--
anuyāya mahābāhuḥ phālguno vākyam abravīt |
Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty-armed Phālguna (Arjuna), pursuing him, spoke. Seeing the king of Sindhu display his ‘valor’ only in fleeing toward the forest, Arjuna followed after him and addressed him—implying that true kṣatriya prowess is shown by steadfastness and accountability in battle, not by mere escape.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage implicitly contrasts genuine kṣatriya valor—steadfastness, responsibility, and facing consequences—with the hollow display of strength that appears only in running away. Ethical force is tied to dharma, not to self-preserving flight.
As the king of Sindhu flees toward the forest, Arjuna (Phālguna) chases him. While pursuing, Arjuna speaks to him, setting up a confrontation and a moral rebuke of cowardly retreat.