Shloka 19
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अहं तु प्रद्वते पूर्व प्रहरिष्पामि तेडनघ । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तद् भवान् कर्तुमहति
ahaṃ tu pradvatē pūrvaṃ prahariṣyāmi te 'nagha | iti me vartate buddhis tad bhavān kartum arhati ||
“اے بے عیب! میں تم پر وار اسی وقت کروں گا جب تم پہلے وار کرو گے—میری عقل میں یہی پختہ عزم قائم ہے۔ لہٰذا جو مناسب ہو، وہ آپ کیجیے؛ آپ ہی پہلے مجھ پر وار کیجیے۔”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, one may bind oneself to ethical restraint: the speaker refuses to be the initiator of violence against a respected, ‘blameless’ opponent, emphasizing honor, self-control, and dharmic conduct amid conflict.
In the course of a battle episode narrated by Vaiśampāyana, a combatant declares a firm resolve: he will not strike first and will retaliate only after the other party attacks, urging the opponent to make the first move.