Shloka 19
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
शपे<हं कृष्णचरणैरिष्टपूर्तेन चैव ह । यदि त्वां ससुतं पाप॑ं न हन्यां युधि रोषित:,“मैं श्रीकृष्णके चरणों तथा अपने इष्टापूर्तकर्मोकी शपथ खाकर कहता हूँ कि यदि मैं युद्धमें क्ुद्ध होकर तुम-जैसे पापीको पुत्रोंसहित न मार डालूँ तो मुझे उत्तम गति न मिले 'टद्रोणपुत्र!! खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह, तू मेरे हाथसे छूटकर जीवित नहीं जा सकेगा। आज इस रणांगणमें मैं तेरा युद्धका हौसला मिटा दूँगा”
śape ’haṃ kṛṣṇa-caraṇair iṣṭa-pūrtena caiva ha | yadi tvāṃ sa-sutaṃ pāpaṃ na hanyāṃ yudhi roṣitaḥ ||
शपेऽहं कृष्णचरणैरिष्टपूर्तेन चैव ह । यदि त्वां ससुतं पापं न हन्यां युधि रोषितः ॥
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the Mahābhārata’s war-ethic, intense personal resolve is legitimized through sacred oaths: devotion (invoking Kṛṣṇa’s feet) and accumulated religious/charitable merit (iṣṭa–pūrta) are called as witnesses. It also implicitly warns how anger (roṣa) can appropriate the language of dharma to justify violence.
A warrior (as reported by Sañjaya) makes a solemn vow in the midst of battle: he swears by Kṛṣṇa and by his own pious merits that he will kill his opponent—described as ‘sinful’—along with the opponent’s sons, declaring that failure would forfeit his highest spiritual good.