Shloka 68
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
इन्द्रो वा ते हरिमान् वज़हस्त: पुरस्ताद् यातु समरे5रीन् विनिध्नन् । सुग्रीवयुक्तेन रथेन वा ते पश्चात् कृष्णो रक्षतु वासुदेव:
sañjaya uvāca | indro vā te harimān vajrahastaḥ purastād yātu samare 'rīn vinighnan | sugrīvayuktena rathena vā te paścāt kṛṣṇo rakṣatu vāsudevaḥ |
サञ्जयは言った。「あるいは、黄褐の馬に乗り金剛杵を手にするインドラが、戦場で汝の前に立って敵を討ち滅ぼすがよい。あるいは、疾き馬を繋いだ戦車に乗り、ヴァースデーヴァたるクリシュナが汝の後ろより守護するがよい。」この偈は、戦における選択を示す。敵を滅する神威の先陣を求めるか、あるいはクリシュナの護りの同在に依るか——勝利とは力のみならず、正法にかなう導きと神の庇護に結びつくことを暗に語る。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in a righteous but difficult war, one may seek overwhelming power (Indra destroying foes) or the steadier safeguard of Kṛṣṇa’s protection; ethically, it points to victory grounded in dharma and divine-aligned guidance rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya reports a message presenting a choice of divine support for the coming battle: Indra could lead from the front annihilating enemies, or Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva could protect from behind while the warrior advances—underscoring the gravity of the impending conflict.