Shloka 32
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
तत् पापं सुमहत् कृत्वा प्रतियुद्धयस्व भारत । कथं हि त्वद्विधो मोहादू रोचयेत पलायनम्
tat pāpaṁ sumahat kṛtvā pratiyudhyasva bhārata | kathaṁ hi tvadvidho mohād rocayet palāyanam ||
Sañjaya disse: “Tendo cometido esse pecado imensamente grave, luta agora e revida, ó Bhārata. Pois como poderia um homem como tu, iludido pela paixão, aprovar a fuga do campo de batalha e o voltar as costas?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames retreat from a righteous battlefield as ethically blameworthy for a kṣatriya: after a grave wrong has been done, one must face consequences with courage rather than seek escape under delusion (moha).
Sañjaya reports a sharp exhortation addressed to a Kuru warrior: after committing a serious fault, he is urged to stand and fight instead of fleeing, since such flight contradicts the honor expected of someone ‘like you’ (tvadvidhaḥ).