Pradyumna Vows to Return to Battle Despite Shame
Pradyumna, having been carried unconscious from the battlefield, imagines the scorn of every Vrishni hero — Gada, Baladeva, Satyaki, and the women of his clan — if he does not return. He tells Daruki that shame with ridicule is worse than death, and commands the chariot be turned back at once.
Pradyumna said: "O Suta! Turn the chariot back again. O Daruka's son! Never act in this way again. Never retreat from a field of battle while I am still alive.
"One who has been born in the Vrishni lineage never goes back on a word he has given and never kills an enemy who has fallen or has surrendered. Nor does he kill a woman, an aged one or a child, or one who has lost his chariot or his weapons, or is bewildered.
"You have been born in the suta lineage and you are well trained in the tasks of sutas. You know the dharma of Vrishnis in battle. Since you know the conduct of Vrishnis in battle, you will never again, no matter what the situation is, leave the field of battle.
"What will Gada's elder brother, the invincible Madhava, tell me when he sees that I have been frightened and have fled the field of battle, struck by weapons on my back? The mighty-armed Baladeva, who is dressed in blue and is Keshava's elder brother, is addicted to wine. What will he say when he returns?
"Sini's grandson is a great archer and a lion among men. What will he say when he hears I have fled from battle? What will the victorious Samba say, or the invincible Charudeshna, or Gada, or Sarana? What will the mighty-armed Akrura tell me?
"The wives of the Vrishni warriors have always considered me brave, honourable, virtuous and manly. When they get together, what will they say? They will say, 'Pradyumna is frightened and retreats from the great battle. Shame on him!' They will never say, 'Well done!'
"To a person like me, shame with ridicule is worse than death. Therefore, never withdraw again.
"Before he left for the sacrifice of the infinitely energetic Partha, Hari, the killer of Madhu, left this burden on me. When the brave Kritavarma was about to come out to face Shalva, I restrained him, saying that he should refrain and that I would stop him. Because of his respect for me, Hridika's son desisted. What will I tell the maharatha (great warrior) after abandoning the field of battle?
"What will I tell Pundarikaksha, the mighty-armed and invincible man who wields the conch shell, the chakra and the club, when he returns? What will I tell Satyaki, Baladeva and the other Andhakas and Vrishnis, who have always taken pride in me?
"Having abandoned the field of battle, with arrows piercing my back and having been carried away unconscious by you, I do not wish to live any longer. Turn the chariot back at once. Never act in this way again, not even if disaster looms.
"After having fled the field of battle in fright and with arrows piercing my back, I do not think life is worth living. Have you ever seen me suffer from fear, or flee from the field of battle like a coward? As long as I desired to fight, you should not have left the field of battle. Therefore, return to the field of battle." Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 316