Mahabharata 7.73.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 73, Shloka 21
द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्
Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel
न चास्मान् शरणं गच्छेत् कृष्णं वा पुरुषोत्तमम् | भवन्तं वा महाराज श्वो5स्मि हनता जयद्रथम्
na cāsmān śaraṇaṁ gacchet kṛṣṇaṁ vā puruṣottamam | bhavantaṁ vā mahārāja śvo 'smi hatvā jayadratham ||
ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಜಯದ್ರಥನು ನಮ್ಮ ಶರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಲಿ, ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಶರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಲಿ, ಅಥವಾ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಶರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಲಿ, ಮಹಾರಾಜ, ಬರದಿದ್ದರೆ—ನಾಳೆ ನಾನು ಜಯದ್ರಥನನ್ನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಸಂಹರಿಸುವೆನು.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, Arjuna articulates a conditional ethic: he offers the opponent a path of refuge and renunciation of wrongful alliance. The vow is presented not as blind vengeance but as a duty-bound resolve that still acknowledges the moral category of śaraṇa (seeking protection) and the authority of rightful guardians, including Krishna as Puruṣottama.
After the day’s events surrounding Abhimanyu’s fall and Jayadratha’s role in obstructing the Pandavas, Arjuna publicly declares a firm vow: unless Jayadratha abandons the Kauravas and seeks refuge with Arjuna’s side, with Krishna, or with the addressed king, Arjuna will kill him the next day.
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