Shloka 293
ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्
Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief
भीतो रणे श्वेतवाहादिति मां मंस्थते जन: । “माताजी! यदि तुम्हारे मतके अनुसार मैं इस समय युधिष्ठिरके साथ संधि कर लूँ तो सब लोग यही समझेंगे कि “कर्ण युद्धमें अर्जुनसे डर गया”
bhīto raṇe śvetavāhād iti māṃ maṃsthate janaḥ |
众人会这样议论我：“他在战场上惧怕那位驾白马者（阿周那）。”母亲啊，若依你的劝告，我此刻与由提施提罗讲和，那么世人只会得出一个结论：“迦尔纳在战争中畏惧阿周那了。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between choosing a prudent peace and preserving a warrior’s public honor. It shows how concern for reputation can pressure a person to reject reconciliation even when it may reduce harm, raising questions about whether dharma is guided by inner rightness or by public perception.
The speaker expresses anxiety that if he accepts a peace with Yudhiṣṭhira now, people will interpret it as fear of Arjuna (called ‘the White-horsed one’). The line frames a moment where counsel toward compromise is weighed against the stigma of seeming cowardly in the context of impending or ongoing conflict.