Shloka 7
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
इत्यब्रवीदर्जुनो योत्स्यमानो गाण्डीवधन्वा लोहितपदझनेत्र: । न चेद् राज्यं मुज्चति धार्तराष्ट्रो युधिष्ठिरस्थाजमीढस्य राज्ञ:
ity abravīd arjuno yotsyamāno gāṇḍīvadhanvā lohitapadma-netraḥ | na ced rājyaṃ muñcati dhārtarāṣṭro yudhiṣṭhirasthājamiḍhasya rājñaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—एवमब्रवीदर्जुनो योत्स्यमानो गाण्डीवधन्वा लोहितपद्मनेत्रः—“यदि धार्तराष्ट्रः सुतो दुर्योधनः अजमीढवंशस्य राज्ञो युधिष्ठिरस्य राज्यं न मुञ्चति, तर्हि युद्धमेव भविष्यति।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a last resort tied to dharma: if the unjust party refuses to relinquish what rightfully belongs to the legitimate king (Yudhiṣṭhira), then a kṣatriya like Arjuna considers battle a compelled duty rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya reports Arjuna’s resolve: armed with the Gāṇḍīva and prepared for combat, Arjuna declares that unless Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana) yields the kingdom due to Yudhiṣṭhira, the conflict will proceed to war.