Mahabharata 7.141.90 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 90
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
शक्तो5पि नावधीत् कर्ण समर्थ: पाडुनन्दन: । रक्षमाण: प्रतिज्ञां तां या कृता सव्यसाचिना
śakto 'pi nāvadhīt karṇaḥ samarthaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | rakṣamāṇaḥ pratijñāṃ tāṃ yā kṛtā savyasācinā ||
संजय म्हणाला—समर्थ असूनही पांडुनंदनाने कर्णाचा वध केला नाही; कारण सव्यसाची (अर्जुन) यांनी पूर्वी केलेली प्रतिज्ञा तो जपत होता.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to a pledged word: even in a life-and-death battle, one should not violate a solemn vow—especially a vow made by a rightful claimant (here Arjuna). Strength is shown not only in striking but also in restraining oneself for the sake of ethical order and trust.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, though strong enough to kill Karṇa at that moment, refrains from doing so. He holds back specifically to preserve Arjuna’s prior pledge regarding Karṇa, allowing the narrative to maintain the promised confrontation and its moral framing.
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