Shloka 28
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा गतोद्वाहमकूजनाक्षं सुवर्णतारं रथमुत्तमाश्वै: । दान्तैर्युक्ते सहदेवो5थिरूढ: शिरांसि राज्ञां क्षेप्स्यते मार्गणौचै:
sañjaya uvāca | yadā gatodvāham akūjanākṣaṃ suvarṇatāraṃ ratham uttamāśvaiḥ | dāntair yukte sahadevo 'thirūḍhaḥ śirāṃsi rājñāṃ kṣepsyate mārgaṇair ucchaiḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。サハデーヴァがその戦車に乗るとき――優れ、よく鍛えられ、従順で規律ある馬に牽かれ、御者の意のままに進み、車軸は一切音を立てず、旋回すれば黄金の円環の光条のように見える戦車――彼は矢を高く放ち、敵方の王たちの首級を落としてゆくであろう。その恐るべき時、武器に通じたサハデーヴァが戦場に踏みとどまり四方へ敵を撃つのを見て、ドゥリタラーシュトラの子ドゥルヨーダナは、戦の結末を思い、深い悔恨にとらわれる。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral weight of choosing war: when righteous and skilled warriors act decisively, the aggressor is forced to confront consequences. It hints that adharma-driven conflict culminates in fear and regret, even before the final defeat.
Sañjaya describes a vivid, almost prophetic battle scene: Sahadeva mounts a superb, silent-axled chariot drawn by disciplined horses and, with powerful archery, fells enemy kings. The description functions as a warning about the impending devastation and the psychological collapse (remorse) it will provoke in Duryodhana.