Shloka 4
Adhyāya 64 — Omens, Conch Signals, and Arjuna’s Assault on the Elephant Division
त एन॑ मुक्तसंनाहा: प्रार्थयन् जीवितैषिण: । शरण्यमीयु: शरणं तवास्म इति वादिन:,तब वे शत्रु अपने प्राण बचानेके लिये कवच खोलकर उनसे प्रार्थना करने लगे और हम सब प्रकारसे आपके हैं; ऐसा कहते हुए उन शरणदाता नरेशकी शरणमें चले गये
te enam muktasaṃnāhāḥ prārthayan jīviteṣiṇaḥ | śaraṇyam īyuḥ śaraṇaṃ tavāsmi iti vādinaḥ ||
ତେବେ ସେଇ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନେ ପ୍ରାଣ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ଆଶାରେ କବଚ ଖୋଲି ତାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲେ। ‘ଆମେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରକାରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କର; ଆପଣ ହିଁ ଆମର ଶରଣ’—ଏପରି କହି ସେଇ ଶରଣଦାତା ନରେଶଙ୍କ ଶରଣକୁ ଗଲେ।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of battle, when opponents lay down arms and seek refuge, the moral focus shifts from enmity to protection: surrender (śaraṇāgati) invokes the protector’s dharma, highlighting restraint and the ethical weight of granting shelter.
Nārada describes enemies who, fearing death, remove their armor and approach a king known as a refuge, pleading for their lives and declaring themselves his dependents—an explicit act of surrender intended to secure protection.