Shloka 29
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
स पूर्व पितरं श्रुत्वा हतं युद्धे त्वयानघ
sa pūrvaṃ pitaraṃ śrutvā hataṃ yuddhe tvayānagha | niṣpāpa arjuna! me putraḥ surathena pūrvaṃ śrutaṃ yadarjunahastenaiva me pituḥ mṛtyur abhavat | tataḥ paścāt yadā tasya karṇayoḥ samācāraḥ patitaḥ yattvaṃ aśvasya pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ yuddhāya ihāvatīrṇaḥ, tadā sa pituḥ mṛtyu-duḥkhena āturaḥ san prāṇān parityaktavān ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “O Arjuna na walang dungis, matagal nang narinig ng anak kong si Suratha na ang aking ama ay napatay sa digmaan sa iyong kamay. Nang maglaon, nang umabot sa kanyang pandinig ang balitang dumating ka rito habang hinahabol ang kabayong panghandog ng Aśvamedha, handang makipaglaban, siya—nilamon ng dalamhati sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ama—ay tumalikod sa buhay at namatay.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the lingering moral and emotional aftermath of war: even a righteous victory can generate enduring grief and secondary harms. It implicitly warns that acts done in battle ripple through families and generations, demanding sensitivity and restraint in the exercise of power.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that Suratha, having long known that Arjuna killed his grandfather, later hears that Arjuna has arrived in pursuit of the Aśvamedha horse and is prepared to fight. Overcome by renewed sorrow and agitation, Suratha gives up his life.