Shloka 45
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
तद् यथा प्रेक्षमाणानां सूतपुत्रं महारथम् | न हन्यात् पाण्डव: संख्ये तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्,“अत: हमलोगोंके देखते-देखते युद्धमें पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन-जैसे भी महारथी सूतपुत्रको न मार सकें, वैसी नीतिसे काम लो”
tad yathā prekṣamāṇānāṃ sūtaputraṃ mahāratham | na hanyāt pāṇḍavaḥ saṅkhye tathā nītir vidhīyatām |
Sañjaya berkata: “Maka aturlah siasat demikian rupa, supaya—walaupun di hadapan mata kita—Pāṇḍava di tengah pertempuran tidak dapat membunuh pahlawan kereta agung itu, putera Sūta. Hendaklah strategi disusun menurutnya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti (strategic counsel) in war: leaders may seek to shape circumstances so that a key warrior is protected from a superior opponent. It raises an ethical tension typical of the epic—pragmatic battlefield strategy versus ideals of fair combat and dharma.
Sañjaya reports counsel urging that arrangements be made so that Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) cannot kill Karṇa (the Sūta’s son), even in full view of the army—indicating an urgent tactical concern to shield Karṇa from Arjuna in the ongoing battle.