Shloka 26
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
सम्बन्धिनो वयस्यांश्व मातुलान् बान्धवांस्तथा । घातयित्वा कथं तात हदे तिष्ठसि साम्प्रतम्
saṃbandhino vayasyāṃś ca mātulān bāndhavāṃs tathā | ghātayitvā kathaṃ tāta hrade tiṣṭhasi sāmpratam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Setelah engkau menyebabkan terbunuhnya sanak saudara, sahabat, bapa saudara sebelah ibu, dan kaum kerabatmu juga—wahai yang dikasihi—bagaimanakah engkau kini berdiam di sebuah kolam? Tatkala tiada lagi tempat berlindung, bagaimana pula timbul keinginan untuk terus hidup dalam dirimu? Melihat anak-anak, saudara-saudara, dan bapa saudara sebelah bapa rebah di medan, mengapa engkau bersembunyi di air setelah mencetuskan pembantaian kaum keluarga, sahabat, dan seluruh kerabat?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical weight of violence against one’s own kin and the moral incoherence of seeking personal survival or concealment after orchestrating widespread slaughter. It frames kinslaying as a deed that naturally invites shame, self-reproach, and questions about one’s right to continue living without atonement.
Sañjaya reports a rebuking address to a warrior who, after causing the deaths of relatives and close associates, is said to be hiding or remaining in a pond. The speaker challenges him: having seen sons, brothers, and paternal uncles fallen in battle, why does he now cling to life and conceal himself instead of facing the consequences.