Shloka 18
Droṇa’s Resolve to Restrain Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna’s Protective Vow (द्रोणस्य युधिष्ठिरनिग्रह-प्रयत्नः)
सो<यं मम जयो व्यक्त दीर्घकालं भविष्यति । अतो न वधमिच्छामि धर्मराजस्य कहिचित्,“इस प्रकार निश्चय ही मेरी विजय दीर्घकालतक बनी रहेगी। इसीलिये मैं कभी धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरका वध करना नहीं चाहता”
so ’yaṁ mama jayo vyakto dīrghakālaṁ bhaviṣyati | ato na vadham icchāmi dharmarājasya kadācit ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kemenangan ini milikku nyata ditakdirkan akan berkekalan untuk waktu yang panjang. Oleh itu, aku tidak berhasrat, pada bila-bila masa pun, untuk membunuh Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous war, moral restraint matters: the speaker treats the killing of Dharmarāja (the embodiment of dharma) as ethically unacceptable, implying that enduring victory is linked to upholding dharma rather than merely defeating an opponent.
Sañjaya reports a resolve that victory will be long-lasting and, because of that conviction and the moral stature of Yudhiṣṭhira, the speaker declares he does not wish to kill Dharmarāja at any time.