Shloka 21
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्वीमांश्व॒ धार्मिक: सत्यविक्रम: । राजंस्त्वमापदा55कृष्ट: कि करिष्यसि पाण्डव,राजन! आपका स्वभाव कोमल है। आप उदार, लज्जाशील, धर्मपरायण तथा सत्यपराक्रमी हैं, तथापि विपत्तिमें पड़ गये हैं। पाण्डुनन्दन! आप वहाँ क्या करेंगे?
mṛdur vadānyo hrīmāṁś ca dhārmikaḥ satyavikramaḥ | rājan tvam āpadā kṛṣṭaḥ kiṁ kariṣyasi pāṇḍava ||
Wika ni Arjuna: “O Hari, banayad ang iyong pananalita, mapagbigay at may hiya; tapat ka sa dharma at ang iyong tapang ay nakaugat sa katotohanan. Gayunman, itinulak ka sa kapahamakan. O anak ni Pāṇḍu—ano ang gagawin mo roon?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that personal virtues—gentleness, generosity, modesty, commitment to dharma, and truthful valor—are tested most sharply in times of calamity; ethical character must guide one’s response to crisis.
Arjuna addresses a king, praising his noble qualities but noting that he has fallen into misfortune, and asks what course of action he intends to take in that difficult situation.