Shloka 16
प्राग् द्वादशसमा राजन् धार्तराष्ट्रानू निहन्महि । निवर्त्य च वनात् पार्थमानाय्य च जनार्दनम्,“राजन्! हमलोग बारह वर्ष बीतनेके पहले ही अर्जुनको वनसे लौटाकर और भगवान् श्रीकृष्णको बुलाकर धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंका संहार कर सकते हैं
prāg dvādaśa-samā rājan dhārtarāṣṭrānū nihanhmahi | nivartya ca vanāt pārtham ānāyya ca janārdanam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O King, even before the completion of the twelve years, we could strike down the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—by bringing Pārtha (Arjuna) back from the forest and summoning Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa).” The line conveys a strategic and moral urgency: the speaker suggests that decisive action, supported by Arjuna’s return and Kṛṣṇa’s guidance, could end the Kauravas’ oppressive course without waiting for the full term of exile.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between strategic urgency and the ethical weight of commitments: decisive action against wrongdoing is envisioned as effective only when aligned with rightful support—Arjuna’s prowess and Kṛṣṇa’s guiding presence—implying that power should be exercised with counsel and dharmic orientation, not merely impatience.
Vaiśaṃpāyana, narrating to King Janamejaya, states that it would be possible to destroy Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons even before the twelve-year period ends, if Arjuna were recalled from the forest and Kṛṣṇa were brought in—framing a hypothetical plan for early confrontation with the Kauravas.