Mahabharata 7.145.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 145, Shloka 22
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
न चात्मा रक्षितव्यो वै राजन् रणगतेन हि । यो यस्य युज्यते<र्थेषु स वै रक्ष्यो नराधिप
na cātmā rakṣitavyo vai rājan raṇagatena hi | yo yasya yujyate 'rtheṣu sa vai rakṣyo narādhipa ||
राजन्, रणात उतरलेल्या वीराने केवळ स्वतःचेच रक्षण करावे, हे योग्य नाही. नरेश्वर, जो ज्याच्या कार्यात व हेतूत गुंततो, तो त्या व्यक्तीकडूनच रक्षणीय असतो.
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, a warrior’s dharma is not self-preservation alone; ethical combat includes responsibility toward those whose cause one serves. The verse frames protection as reciprocal obligation: service and engagement in another’s affairs create a claim to protection by that leader or patron.
Arjuna addresses a kingly figure, arguing from battlefield ethics. He insists that once one has entered combat, one must prioritize duty and the protection of those connected by service and purpose, rather than focusing narrowly on one’s own safety.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.