Shloka 9
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
न हन्येरंश्व राजानो राज्ञश्चाज्ञा कृता भवेत् इति संचिन्त्य स तदा फाल्गुन: पुरुषर्षभ:
na hanyeraṁśva rājāno rājñaścājñā kṛtā bhavet iti sañcintya sa tadā phālgunaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa pagninilay niya—“Hindi dapat patayin ang mga hari, at ang utos ng isang naghaharing panginoon ay nararapat sundin”—si Phālguna (Arjuna), ang bantog na lalaki sa mga tao, ay nagpasya noon na ang dharma ang maging batayan ng kanyang pasiya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic restraint: even amid conflict, the killing of kings is treated as morally weighty, and the rightful command of a sovereign is to be honored. It presents ethical deliberation as integral to righteous action.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna (Phālguna), described as the best of men, pauses to reflect on principles of conduct—avoiding the slaying of kings and fulfilling the king’s order—before proceeding with his next course of action.