Shloka 9063
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
प्रजह्मयात् समरे प्राणांस्तस्माद् विन्दामि कश्मलम् | परंतु वार्ष्णेय! यह अर्जुन तो युद्धस्थलमें बहुसंख्यक सैनिकोंद्वारा पीड़ित होनेपर समरांगणमें अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग कर देगा। इसीलिये मैं शोक और दु:खमें डूबा जा रहा हूँ
prajahmyāt samare prāṇāṁs tasmād vindāmi kaśmalam | parantu vārṣṇeya! eṣa arjunaḥ tu yuddhasthale bahusaṅkhyakaiḥ sainikaiḥ pīḍyamānaḥ samara-aṅgaṇe svaprāṇān parityajet | tasmād ahaṁ śoka-duḥkhe nimagno bhavāmi ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Jika dia gugur di medan perang, aku akan tenggelam dalam keputusasaan. Namun, wahai Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa), Arjuna ini—apabila dihimpit di gelanggang perang oleh sejumlah besar askar—akan melepaskan nyawanya sendiri di medan laga. Itulah sebabnya aku sedang hanyut dalam dukacita dan kesedihan.”
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical and emotional burden of dharma in war: even when battle is a kṣatriya obligation, the possible loss of a righteous ally (Arjuna) generates kaśmala—despondency and moral anguish—showing how duty and compassion collide in epic decision-making.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa, fearing that Arjuna, overwhelmed by many enemy soldiers on the battlefield, may choose death rather than retreat or be captured. This anticipation of Arjuna’s self-sacrifice drives Yudhiṣṭhira into deep grief.