Mahabharata 7.81.9 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 81, Shloka 9
Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma
Engagement and Countermeasures
शोचन् नन्दयते शत्रून् कर्शयत्यपि बान्धवान् । क्षीयते च नरस्तस्मान्न त्वं शोचितुमहसि
śocan nandayate śatrūn karśayaty api bāndhavān | kṣīyate ca naras tasmān na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi ||
قال سنجيا: «إن الرجلَ الذي يسلِّم نفسه للحزن يُفرِح أعداءه، ويُنهِك كذلك ذويه وأقرباءه بالأسى. ثم إن الحزنَ نفسه يلتهمه حتى يذبل. لذلك لا ينبغي لك أن تحزن.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief is portrayed as counterproductive: it strengthens opponents, burdens one’s own supporters, and consumes the griever. Hence one should practice restraint and steadiness rather than lamentation.
In the midst of the war reports, Sañjaya offers counsel meant to steady the listener’s mind, arguing that lamentation only benefits enemies and harms one’s own side, so grief should be set aside.
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