Kṛṣṇopadeśa and Duryodhana’s Challenge
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 77
तथाभियामि संग्रामं न जीयेयं जयामि च । तेन सत्येन संग्रामे हतं विद्धि जयद्रथम्
tathābhiyāmi saṅgrāmaṃ na jīyeyaṃ jayāmi ca | tena satyena saṅgrāme hataṃ viddhi jayadratham ||
ଅର୍ଜୁନ କହିଲେ—“ମୁଁ ଏହି ସଙ୍ଗ୍ରାମକୁ ଏମିତି ପ୍ରବେଶ କରୁଛି ଯେ ମୁଁ ପରାଜିତ ହେବି ନାହିଁ, ନା ମାତ୍ର ଜୟଲୋଭରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କରୁଛି। ଏହି ସତ୍ୟବଳରେ ଜାଣ—ଏହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଜୟଦ୍ରଥ ହତ ହୋଇଛି।”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights satya (truthfulness) as a moral force: a resolute, truthful declaration (satyavacana) is presented as spiritually and ethically potent, binding the speaker to righteous action and giving unwavering clarity of purpose in a dharmic struggle.
In the Drona Parva episode surrounding Jayadratha, Arjuna advances into battle with a solemn resolve. He invokes the force of his truth-utterance to affirm that Jayadratha’s death is certain—expressing determination to fulfill his vow and restore moral order after Jayadratha’s role in Abhimanyu’s fall.