Shloka 16

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

संजय उवाच इत्युक्तो वासुदेवेन पाण्डव: संशितव्रत:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ity ukto vāsudevena pāṇḍavaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ |

Translation

三阇耶说道：既被婆苏提婆（奎师那）如此告诫，那位坚守苦行誓戒的般度之子，便仿佛含笑一般，对站在水中的你那位勇力无双的儿子作了回答。

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तः: having been addressed / spoken to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासुदेवेन: by Vāsudeva (Krishna)
• वासुदेवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पाण्डवः: the Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संशितव्रतः: of firm/austere vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address: mahārāja)
• Bharatanandana (epithet of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• Kaurava prince in the water (Duryodhana, by episode context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a battlefield setting, righteous conduct is shaped by disciplined vows and wise counsel; speech and demeanor (such as a controlled, almost smiling composure) can reflect inner restraint and adherence to dharma rather than mere hostility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that after Kṛṣṇa speaks, Yudhiṣṭhira—known for firm vows—addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s powerful son who is positioned in the water, setting up the ensuing exchange in the episode where Duryodhana is confronted while hiding/standing in a watery place.