Shloka 57
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा विपाठा मद्भुजविप्रमुक्ता द्विजा: फलानीव महीरुहाग्रात् प्रचेतार उत्तमाड़ानि यूनां तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्
sañjaya uvāca | yadā vipāṭhā mad-bhuja-vipramuktā dvijāḥ phalānīva mahīruhāgrāt pracetāra uttamāṅgāni yūnāṃ tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro 'nutapsyate |
सञ्जय उवाच—यदा मम भुजविप्रमुक्ता विपाठाख्याः शराः युवयोद्धॄणां शिरांसि छित्त्वा छित्त्वा भूमौ राशीकरिष्यन्ति—यथा खगाः तरूणामग्रात् फलानि पातयित्वा राशीन्कुर्वन्ति—तदा तां रणहिंसां दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रः सुयोधनः तीव्रपश्चात्तापेन पीड्यते।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral logic of consequence: when one drives events toward unjust war, the inevitable suffering returns as remorse. It foreshadows that Duryodhana’s choices will culminate in visible devastation, awakening regret too late to prevent harm.
Sañjaya describes a future battlefield scene: arrows called Vipāṭha, shot with great force, will decapitate young fighters, piling heads like fallen fruit. Seeing this carnage, Duryodhana (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son) will be overwhelmed with repentance.