Shloka 72
यत् त्वया कथित पूर्व न योत्स्यामीति केशव । मिथ्यावादीति लोकास्त्वां कथयिष्यन्ति माधव,“केशव! आपने पहले जो यह कहा था कि “मैं युद्ध नहीं करूँगा” उस वचनकी रक्षा कीजिये। अन्यथा माधव! लोग आपको मिथ्यावादी कहेंगे
yat tvayā kathita pūrva na yotsyāmīti keśava | mithyāvādīti lokās tvāṁ kathayiṣyanti mādhava ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi Keśava, xin giữ vững điều Ngài đã nói trước đây: ‘Ta sẽ không chiến đấu.’ Bằng không, hỡi Mādhava, người đời sẽ gọi Ngài là kẻ nói dối.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of one’s declared word: public trust and moral authority depend on truthfulness and consistency. A vow, once announced, becomes a matter of dharma and reputation; breaking it invites the charge of falsehood.
Sañjaya reports a pointed appeal directed at Kṛṣṇa (addressed as Keśava/Mādhava): since Kṛṣṇa had earlier stated that he would not fight, he is urged to maintain that stance, or else people will accuse him of being a liar.