Shloka 21
मृगस्वप्नदर्शनम्
The Deer’s Dream-Appeal and the Move to Kāmyaka
अर्जुन उवाच यदि साम्ना न मोक्ष्यन्ति गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान् । अद्य गन्धर्वराजस्य भूमि: पास्यति शोणितम्,अर्जुन बोले--यदि गन्धर्वलोग समझाने-बुझानेसे कौरवोंको नहीं छोड़ेंगे, तो यह पृथ्वी आज गन्धर्वराजका रक्त पीयेगी
arjuna uvāca yadi sāmnā na mokṣyanti gandharvā dhṛtarāṣṭrajān | adya gandharvarājasya bhūmiḥ pāsyati śoṇitam ||
อรชุนกล่าวว่า “หากเหล่าคันธรรพไม่ยอมปล่อยบุตรของธฤตราษฏระด้วยการเกลี้ยกล่อมอย่างสันติแล้วไซร้ วันนี้แผ่นดินนี้จักดื่มโลหิตของราชาแห่งคันธรรพ”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts diplomacy with force: Arjuna prefers release through sāman (conciliation), but asserts that when peaceful means fail, a kṣatriya may resort to battle to uphold duty and protect those under his responsibility.
The Kauravas (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra) are in the Gandharvas’ custody. Arjuna declares that he will first seek their release through persuasion; if the Gandharvas refuse, he is ready to fight the Gandharva king, even to the point of bloodshed.