Shloka 33
अर्जुनस्य दिग्विजयारम्भः — Arjuna Initiates the Northern Campaign and Secures Bhagadattta’s Tribute
तस्मात् ते नैव कौन्तेय पीडनीयो जनाधिप: । सममेतेन युध्यस्व बाहुभ्यां भरतर्षभ
tasmāt te naiva kaunteya pīḍanīyo janādhipaḥ | samam etena yudhyasva bāhubhyāṃ bharatarṣabha ||
“Maka, wahai putera Kuntī, raja ini janganlah lagi kamu tindas. Wahai yang termulia antara Bharata, bertarunglah dengannya secara setara, bersandar pada kekuatan lenganmu sendiri.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa emphasizes restraint and fairness: even against an enemy king, one should not inflict needless suffering or use unfair advantage; a kṣatriya should fight on equal terms, letting strength and skill decide rather than cruelty or harassment.
In the Sabha Parva context surrounding the Jarāsandha episode, Kṛṣṇa instructs Pārtha/Kaunteya to avoid further tormenting the king and instead engage him in a straightforward, equal contest—framing the coming combat as a regulated duel consistent with dharma.