Shloka 67
क्षामयित्वा तु कौरव्यं रणादुत्तरमागतम् । प्रशशंस ततो मत्स्य: शृण्वतः सव्यसाचिन:,इधर मत्स्यनरेश कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरसे क्षमा माँगकर सव्यसाची अर्जुनके सुनते हुए ही रणभूमिसे आये हुए उत्तरकी प्रशंसा करने लगे--
kṣāmayitvā tu kauravyaṃ raṇād uttaram āgatam | praśaśaṃsa tato matsyaḥ śṛṇvataḥ savyasācinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah memohon keampunan daripada putera Kuru (Yudhiṣṭhira), Raja Virāṭa dari Matsya pun memuji Uttara yang pulang dari medan perang—dan hal itu diucapkannya ketika Arjuna, sang Savyasācī, pemanah yang mahir dengan kedua-dua tangan, sedang mendengar. Adegan ini menegaskan kewajipan raja memulihkan keharmonian melalui permohonan maaf serta menggalakkan keberanian di hadapan khalayak, biarpun punca sebenar kemenangan masih tidak dituntut oleh yang berhak.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights royal and ethical conduct: wrongdoing is addressed through seeking forgiveness to restore social harmony, and courage is encouraged through public commendation. It also reflects restraint and discretion, since Arjuna—who truly ensured victory—remains uncredited due to the necessity of maintaining the Pāṇḍavas’ concealment.
After apologizing to Yudhiṣṭhira, King Virāṭa praises his son Uttara for returning from the battle. Arjuna (Savyasācin) hears this praise, though he is the real warrior behind the success, consistent with the incognito setting of the Virāṭa episode.