Shloka 16
Rājagṛhe Magadheśvarasya yuddhāhvānam — Arjunena saṃyamaḥ
The Rājagṛha Challenge and Arjuna’s Restraint
सहितो वसुदेवेन मातुलेन किरीटिन: । तौ समेत्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ विधिवत् प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
sahito vasudevena mātulena kirīṭinaḥ | tau sametya kuruśreṣṭha vidhivat prītipūrvakam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ditemani oleh bapa saudara sebelah ibu, Vāsudeva, Arjuna yang bermahkota diadem mendekati yang terunggul di antara kaum Kuru. Kedua-duanya bertemu menurut adat yang wajar, dengan kasih sayang dan niat baik—suatu pertemuan yang tertib dan hangat, berjiwa perdamaian setelah getirnya perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after conflict, dharma is upheld through proper conduct: meeting others with prescribed etiquette (vidhivat) and sincere goodwill (prītipūrvakam). Social harmony is restored not merely by power, but by respectful, rule-guided reconciliation.
Arjuna, accompanied by his maternal uncle Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), goes to meet the foremost Kuru figure; the verse highlights that their meeting occurs formally and warmly, emphasizing courteous procedure and affectionate intent.