Shloka 32
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
तत् पापं सुमहत् कृत्वा प्रतियुद्धयस्व भारत । कथं हि त्वद्विधो मोहादू रोचयेत पलायनम्
tat pāpaṁ sumahat kṛtvā pratiyudhyasva bhārata | kathaṁ hi tvadvidho mohād rocayet palāyanam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Setelah melakukan dosa yang amat besar itu, sekarang bertempurlah kembali, wahai Bhārata. Kerana bagaimana mungkin seorang sepertimu, yang diperdaya oleh ketaksuban, sanggup merelakan diri melarikan diri dari medan perang dan membelakangi musuh?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames retreat from a righteous battlefield as ethically blameworthy for a kṣatriya: after a grave wrong has been done, one must face consequences with courage rather than seek escape under delusion (moha).
Sañjaya reports a sharp exhortation addressed to a Kuru warrior: after committing a serious fault, he is urged to stand and fight instead of fleeing, since such flight contradicts the honor expected of someone ‘like you’ (tvadvidhaḥ).