Shloka 71
कर्णनिधनवृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् | Reporting Karṇa’s Fall to Yudhiṣṭhira
अस्मिंस्तु मम संकल्पे ब्रूहि किंचिदनुग्रहम् । इदं वा परमनत्रैव शृणु हृत्स्थं विवक्षितम्
asmiṁstu mama saṅkalpe brūhi kiñcid anugraham | idaṁ vā paramantraiva śṛṇu hṛtsthaṁ vivakṣitam |
阿周那说道：“在我此番决意之中，请你赐我一线恩典——指示一法，使我能守誓而不必杀我兄长。若不然，也请再听我心中所怀、欲在此陈说的至高之事。”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: fidelity to one’s vow (saṅkalpa) must be balanced against higher ethical duties—especially the grave sin and emotional rupture implied by harming one’s own brother. Arjuna seeks a compassionate solution that preserves truthfulness without violating fraternal and moral restraint.
In the midst of the war narrative, Arjuna speaks about a mental vow and declares that he does not consider Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira fit to be slain. He asks for guidance—an ‘anugraha’—to protect his pledge without committing fratricide, and he prepares to voice a crucial thought held in his heart.