Shloka 22
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
सर्वमेतन्नरव्याप्र भवत्येतावता कृतम् । योधाश्षापि न हन्तव्या धनंजय रणे त्वया,“पुरुषसिंह! इतना करनेसे सब कुछ हो जायगा। अर्जुन! तुम्हें युद्ध ठानकर योद्धाओंका वध कदापि नहीं करना चाहिये
sarvam etan naravyāghra bhavaty etāvatā kṛtam | yodhāś cāpi na hantavyā dhanaṃjaya raṇe tvayā ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Ó tigre entre os homens, fazendo apenas isto, tudo será realizado. Ó Dhanañjaya, mesmo em batalha não deves decidir-te pela chacina; não deves matar os guerreiros.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic restraint: even in a martial context, success can be achieved without indiscriminate killing. Arjuna is urged to avoid making the battle a pretext for slaughter and to act with measured, ethical intent.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a counsel directed to Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), praising him as ‘naravyāghra’ and instructing that the intended objective will be fulfilled by limited action—specifically, that Arjuna should not kill the opposing warriors even in the course of battle.