Shloka 15
अध्याय १४६ — निशायां सात्यकिदुर्योधनयुद्धम् / Chapter 146 — Night Battle: Sātyaki and Duryodhana; Śakuni’s Encirclement of Arjuna
चारों ओरसे सहस्रों नरेश दर्शक बनकर यह युद्ध देख रहे थे। उनके बीचमें पुनः कृपा करके “जाओ, जीवित रहो” ऐसा कहकर शिनिने सोमदत्तको छोड़ दिया ।। तदवस्थ: कृतस्तेन सोमदत्तो5थ मारिष । प्रासादयन्महादेवममर्षवशमास्थित:,माननीय नरेश! जब शिनिने सोमदत्तकी ऐसी दुरवस्था कर दी, तब उन्होंने अमर्षके वशीभूत हो आराधनाद्वारा महादेवजीको प्रसन्न किया
cāroṃ orase sahasroṃ nareśa darśaka banakara yaha yuddha dekha rahe the | unake bīcameṃ punaḥ kṛpā karake “jāo, jīvita raho” iti uktvā śinine somadattaṃ mumoca || tadavasthaḥ kṛtastena somadatto ’tha māriṣa | prāsādayan mahādevaṃ amarṣavaśam āsthitaḥ ||
समन्ततः सहस्रशो नृपाः प्रेक्षकाः स्थिताः। तेषां मध्ये शिनेः सुतः कृपया पुनः “गच्छ, जीव” इत्युक्त्वा सोमदत्तं विससर्ज। तदवस्थं कृतं तेन सोमदत्तोऽथ मारिष, अमर्षवशमास्थाय महादेवं प्रासादयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes two impulses central to kṣatriya life: mercy toward a defeated foe and the wounded pride that can turn into anger. It highlights how compassion can be offered even in war, yet the recipient may respond with resentment and seek divine support for retaliation—showing the ethical tension between restraint and vengeance.
In full view of many kings, Śini’s son spares Somadatta, explicitly telling him to go and live. Somadatta, humiliated by the condition he has been put in, becomes consumed by indignation and turns to propitiate Mahādeva (Śiva) through worship, presumably to gain strength or favor for what he intends next.