Shloka 15
कालविभाग-निरूपणं तथा युद्धव्यवस्था
Time-Reckoning and Mobilization Counsel
यद्येष राजा मत्स्यानां यदि बीभत्सुरागत: । सर्वेर्योद्धव्यमस्माभिरिति न: समय: कृत:,“यदि यह मत्स्योंका राजा विराट हो अथवा अर्जुन ही उसकी ओरसे आया हो, तो भी हम सब लोगोंको उससे युद्ध करना ही है; यह हमने प्रतिज्ञा कर ली है
yadyeṣa rājā matsyānāṁ yadi bībhatsur āgataḥ | sarvair yoddhavyam asmābhir iti naḥ samayaḥ kṛtaḥ ||
ໄວສັມປາຍະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ບໍ່ວ່າຜູ້ນີ້ຈະເປັນວິຣາຕ (Virāṭa) ກະສັດແຫ່ງມັດສະຍະ ຫຼືຈະເປັນບີພັດສຸ (Bībhatsu—Arjuna) ທີ່ມາແທນພຣະອົງກໍຕາມ, ພວກເຮົາທຸກຄົນຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງຮົບ. ນີ້ແມ່ນສັນຍາທີ່ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ເຮັດໄວ້»។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of a samaya (compact/oath): once a collective pledge is made, the speakers treat it as obligatory even when the opponent may be a powerful king or a renowned warrior like Arjuna. It reflects a warrior ethos where resolve and pledged duty are prioritized over fear or convenience.
In the Virāṭa episode, the speakers (from the opposing side) steel themselves for battle, declaring that regardless of whether the challenger is King Virāṭa himself or Arjuna acting for him, they are committed to fight because they have already formed an agreement to do so.