Shloka 54
Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)
आत्मवीर्य समाश्रित्य भृत्यवीर्य च कौरव । आह्वयस्व रणे पार्थान् सर्वथा क्षत्रियो भव
sañjaya uvāca |
ātmavīrya-samāśritya bhṛtyavīrya ca kaurava |
āhvayasva raṇe pārthān sarvathā kṣatriyo bhava ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਹੇ ਕੌਰਵ! ਆਪਣੇ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਸਰੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸੇਵਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਹੀ ਰਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੁੰਤੀਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲਲਕਾਰ। ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਖ਼ਸ਼ਤਰੀ ਧਰਮ ਨਿਭਾ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges adherence to kṣatriya-dharma: a ruler-warrior should rely on personal courage and the strength of his forces, and meet opponents openly in battle. Ethically, it frames warfare as a duty-bound public contest of valor rather than covert or hesitant action.
Sañjaya reports counsel directed to a Kaurava leader: to summon the Pāṇḍavas (sons of Kuntī) to battle, drawing confidence from his own prowess and that of his retainers, and to act fully in the role expected of a kṣatriya.