Shloka 20
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
हते भीष्मे तु संदध्याच्छिवं स्थादिह माधव । न च तत् कृतवान् मूढो धार्तराष्ट्र: सुबालिश:,“माधव! यदि भीष्मके मारे जानेपर दुर्योधन सन्धि कर लेता तो यहाँ सबका कल्याण होता; परंतु उस अज्ञानी मूर्खने वैसा नहीं किया
hate bhīṣme tu sandadhyāc chivaṃ syād iha mādhava | na ca tat kṛtavān mūḍho dhārtarāṣṭraḥ subāliśaḥ ||
قال سنجيا: «يا ماذافا! لو أنّ ابن دريتاراشترا صالح بعد مقتل بهيشما لكان في ذلك خيرٌ ورفاهٌ للجميع هنا. لكن ذلك الرجل المضلَّل، بالغ الحماقة، لم يفعل.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a decisive warning sign appears—here, Bhīṣma’s fall—ethical prudence demands reconciliation for the welfare of all. Refusing peace out of delusion and childish obstinacy leads to greater harm and deepens adharma.
Sañjaya reflects on a critical turning point: after Bhīṣma was struck down, Duryodhana could have sought a settlement. Addressing Kṛṣṇa as Mādhava, he laments that Duryodhana, being deluded and foolish, did not choose peace, thereby prolonging the destructive war.