Shloka 43
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
पलायमान त्रैगर्त दृष्टयवा भीमो5भ्याभाषत । राजपुत्र निवर्तस्व न ते युक्ते पलायनम्,इसी बीचमें मौका पाकर त्रिगर्तराज भागने लगा। उसे पलायन करते देख भीमसेन बोले--'राजकुमार! लौट आओ । तुम्हारा युद्धसे पीठ दिखाकर भागना उचित नहीं है
palāyamānaṃ traigartaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmo ’bhyabhāṣata | rājaputra nivartasva na te yuktaṃ palāyanam ||
ത്രൈഗർത്ത രാജകുമാരൻ ഓടിപ്പോകുന്നത് കണ്ട ഭീമൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“രാജപുത്രാ, മടങ്ങിവരിക; യുദ്ധത്തിൽ പിൻകാട്ടി ഓടുന്നത് നിനക്കു യുക്തമല്ല.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: in a righteous battle, fleeing and showing one’s back is considered improper. Courage, steadfastness, and facing consequences are treated as ethical duties tied to honor and social responsibility.
During the fighting in Virāṭa’s context, a Trigarta prince attempts to escape. Bhīma notices and calls out, urging him to return, explicitly condemning the act of fleeing as unworthy of a prince.