Shloka 233
Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)
पृष्ठतो नोत्सहे कर्तु त्वां वा त्यक्तुं महीपते । “अर्जुन मुझे भी बुद्धिमान् द्रोणाचार्यका सामना करनेमें समर्थ योद्धा मानते हैं। महीपते! मैं अपने आचार्यकी इस सम्भावनाको तथा उनके उस आदेशको न तो पीछे ढकेल सकता हूँ और न आपको ही त्याग सकता हूँ
pṛṣṭhato notsahe kartuṁ tvāṁ vā tyaktuṁ mahīpate |
सञ्जय उवाच—महीपते, पृष्ठतो हन्तुं नोत्सहे, न च त्वां त्यक्तुं शक्नोमि। अधर्मस्य लज्जां न परित्यजामि, न च युद्धे स्वामिभक्तिं विहाय गन्तुं समर्थोऽस्मि॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, conduct is bounded by dharma: one should avoid dishonourable tactics (such as striking from behind) while also upholding rightful obligations—here, steadfast loyalty to one’s king.
Sañjaya addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), expressing an inner constraint: he cannot commit an act considered improper in battle, and at the same time he cannot desert his sovereign—showing the tension between battlefield expediency and ethical duty.