Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
शस्त्र चाहं रणे जहां श्रुत्वा तु महदप्रियम् । श्रद्धेयवाक्यात् पुरुषादेतत् सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते,यदि मैं किसी विश्वसनीय पुरुषसे युद्ध-भूमिमें कोई अत्यन्त अप्रिय समाचार सुन लूँ तो हथियार नीचे डाल दूँगा। यह मैं तुमसे सच्ची बात कह रहा हूँ
śastraṃ cāhaṃ raṇe jahyāṃ śrutvā tu mahad apriyam | śraddheyavākyāt puruṣād etat satyaṃ bravīmi te ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Se, no campo de batalha, eu ouvisse uma notícia extremamente dolorosa de um homem cuja palavra é digna de confiança, eu deporia as armas. Digo-te isto como verdade.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical weight of trustworthy speech: credible testimony can morally and psychologically disarm even a warrior. It also underscores Yudhiṣṭhira’s commitment to truth and his sensitivity to grievous news, showing how dharma and conscience can override martial impulse.
Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in the context of battlefield deliberation, stating that if he hears extremely distressing news from a reliable person, he would abandon his weapons. He emphasizes that he is speaking truthfully, revealing his inner disposition amid the pressures of war.