Shloka 20
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
उक्त्वा तथा त्वं पितुरग्रतो मा- महं हनिष्यामि महाव्रतं तम् । भीष्मं शरौघैर्विमलार्कवर्ण: सत्यं वदामीति कृता प्रतिज्ञा
uktvā tathā tvaṁ pitur agrato mā—
ahaṁ haniṣyāmi mahāvrataṁ tam |
bhīṣmaṁ śaraughair vimalārkavarṇaḥ
satyaṁ vadāmīti kṛtā pratijñā ||
三阇耶说道：“你曾在你父亲面前对我立誓：‘我必以如无垢日轮般辉耀的箭雨，诛杀那位持大誓的毗湿摩；我所言皆真。’你既立下此愿，如今却不使誓言成就，因为在战斗中你并未杀死提婆弗罗多（毗湿摩）。莫做虚誓之人；当护持你自身的达摩、你的宗族与名誉。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A solemn vow (pratijñā) must align with truth (satya) and be upheld; failing to act after publicly pledging—especially before elders—threatens one’s dharma, family honor (kula), and reputation (yaśas).
Sañjaya recalls a prior promise made before the speaker’s father to slay Bhīṣma with mighty arrow-volleys, and rebukes the present failure to carry it out in battle, warning against becoming a breaker of vows.