Shloka 28
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा गतोद्वाहमकूजनाक्षं सुवर्णतारं रथमुत्तमाश्वै: । दान्तैर्युक्ते सहदेवो5थिरूढ: शिरांसि राज्ञां क्षेप्स्यते मार्गणौचै:
sañjaya uvāca | yadā gatodvāham akūjanākṣaṃ suvarṇatāraṃ ratham uttamāśvaiḥ | dāntair yukte sahadevo 'thirūḍhaḥ śirāṃsi rājñāṃ kṣepsyate mārgaṇair ucchaiḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—यदा सहदेवो दान्तैः सुशिक्षितैः श्रेष्ठाश्वैः युक्तं, यथेष्टगामिनं, अक्षनिनादरहितं, भ्रममाणं च सुवर्णवर्तुलरेखासदृशं रथं समारुह्य, ऊर्ध्वं मार्गणान् क्षिपन् विपक्षराज्ञां शिरांसि पातयिष्यति; तस्मिन् भयङ्करे काले समरे स्थिरः सर्वतो दिशः शत्रूनभ्याहनिष्यन्, तं दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रो दुर्योधनः युद्धपरिणामं चिन्तयन् गाढं पश्चात्तापं प्राप्स्यति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral weight of choosing war: when righteous and skilled warriors act decisively, the aggressor is forced to confront consequences. It hints that adharma-driven conflict culminates in fear and regret, even before the final defeat.
Sañjaya describes a vivid, almost prophetic battle scene: Sahadeva mounts a superb, silent-axled chariot drawn by disciplined horses and, with powerful archery, fells enemy kings. The description functions as a warning about the impending devastation and the psychological collapse (remorse) it will provoke in Duryodhana.