Shloka 18
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
उषिता: स्मो वने वासं प्रतिकर्म चिकीर्षव: । कोपं॑ नाहसि न: कर्तु सदा समरदुर्जय
vaiśampāyana uvāca | uṣitāḥ smo vane vāsaṃ pratikarma cikīrṣavaḥ | kopaṃ nāhasi naḥ kartuṃ sadā samaradurjaya | anagha! ahaṃ tu tvāṃ tadā prahariṣyāmi yadā pūrvaṃ tvaṃ mām prahariṣyasi | mamaiva niścaya eṣa; tvaṃ hi pūrvaṃ mām prahara ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：“我们多年居于林中，忍受艰辛，如今怀着报复仇敌的决意而来。因此，师长啊——战阵中素来难以战胜者——请勿对我们动怒。无垢者啊，我必待你先击我之后，方才还击；此乃我心中坚定之誓。故请你先向我出手。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a context of vengeance and impending battle, the speaker upholds restraint and propriety: he addresses the opponent as ‘teacher’ and ‘blameless,’ asks that anger be set aside, and commits to striking only after being struck—an ethic of controlled force and respect within conflict.
A warrior (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) speaks to a revered preceptor renowned as ‘hard to conquer in battle.’ He explains that they have endured long forest exile and have come seeking requital against enemies, yet he requests the teacher not to be angry and declares he will not initiate the blow, urging the teacher to strike first.