Shloka 12
व्याधि-गुण-साम्योपदेशः | Discourse on Affliction, Guṇa-Equilibrium, and the Inner Battle
पार्थ! अज्ञातवासके दिनों कीचकने जो द्रौपदीको लात मारी थी, उसे भी आप नहीं याद करना चाहते हैं ।।
pārtha! ajñātavāsake dinaḥ kīcakena yo draupadīṃ lātāmārī, tam api tvaṃ na smartum icchasi. yac ca te droṇabhīṣmābhyāṃ yuddham āsīd arindama, manasaikena yoddhavyaṃ tat te yuddham upasthitam. iti śrīmahābhārate āśvamedhike parvaṇi kṛṣṇadharmasaṃvāde dvādaśo 'dhyāyaḥ.
ହେ ପାର୍ଥ! ଅଜ୍ଞାତବାସ ଦିନରେ କୀଚକ ଦ୍ରୌପଦୀକୁ ପାଦାଘାତ କରିଥିଲା—ସେ ଅତ୍ୟାଚାରକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ତୁମେ ସ୍ମରଣ କରିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁନାହ? ଏବଂ ହେ ଅରିନ୍ଦମ, ଦ୍ରୋଣ ଓ ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ସହ ତୁମର ଯେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଥିଲା, ସେଇ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଏବେ ପୁଣି ତୁମ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଏଥର ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କେବଳ ମନରେ ହିଁ କରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ। ଏହିପରି ଶ୍ରୀମହାଭାରତର ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧିକ ପର୍ବରେ କୃଷ୍ଣ-ଧର୍ମସଂବାଦର ଦ୍ୱାଦଶ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reframes conflict as an ethical and psychological discipline: instead of being driven by remembered insults and rage, the hero must fight an inner war—mastering the mind, restraining vengeance, and acting from dharma rather than wounded pride.
Vāyu addresses Arjuna, recalling Draupadī’s humiliation by Kīcaka during the incognito exile and then likening Arjuna’s present challenge to his earlier battles with Droṇa and Bhīṣma—except now the struggle is primarily internal, to be waged through mental resolve and self-governance.