Shloka 18
Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)
एको होकेन सतत युध्यमाने यदि प्रभो
eko hokena satata yudhyamāne yadi prabho
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「主よ、もし一人の男が絶えず戦い続けているのが見いだされるなら……」――この言葉は、孤高の武勇と、戦が容赦なく課す要請とのあいだの道義的緊張を示し、英雄の執念でさえダルマの秤にかけられるべきことをほのめかす。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line foregrounds a dharmic question: continuous fighting and solitary heroism are not automatically virtuous; they must be evaluated in light of rightful purpose, proportionality, and the broader moral order that governs warfare.
Vaiśaṃpāyana, as narrator, introduces or continues a conditional statement addressed to a ‘lord’ (prabho), setting up a discussion about a situation where a single warrior is constantly engaged in combat—likely as a prelude to judging conduct, outcome, or duty in that scenario.