Shloka 9063
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
प्रजह्मयात् समरे प्राणांस्तस्माद् विन्दामि कश्मलम् | परंतु वार्ष्णेय! यह अर्जुन तो युद्धस्थलमें बहुसंख्यक सैनिकोंद्वारा पीड़ित होनेपर समरांगणमें अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग कर देगा। इसीलिये मैं शोक और दु:खमें डूबा जा रहा हूँ
prajahmyāt samare prāṇāṁs tasmād vindāmi kaśmalam | parantu vārṣṇeya! eṣa arjunaḥ tu yuddhasthale bahusaṅkhyakaiḥ sainikaiḥ pīḍyamānaḥ samara-aṅgaṇe svaprāṇān parityajet | tasmād ahaṁ śoka-duḥkhe nimagno bhavāmi ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच—प्रजह्मयात् समरे प्राणान्, तस्माद्विन्दामि कश्मलम्। परन्तु वार्ष्णेय, अयं फाल्गुनो बहुसैन्यैः समरे पीड्यमानः समराङ्गणे प्राणान् परित्यजेत्; तेन शोकदुःखाभ्यां निमग्नोऽस्मि।
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical and emotional burden of dharma in war: even when battle is a kṣatriya obligation, the possible loss of a righteous ally (Arjuna) generates kaśmala—despondency and moral anguish—showing how duty and compassion collide in epic decision-making.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa, fearing that Arjuna, overwhelmed by many enemy soldiers on the battlefield, may choose death rather than retreat or be captured. This anticipation of Arjuna’s self-sacrifice drives Yudhiṣṭhira into deep grief.