Shloka 23
धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama
शमो मे रोचते नित्य॑ पार्थैसतात न विग्रह: । कुरुभ्यो हि सदा मन्ये पाण्डवान् शक्तिमत्तरान्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
śamo me rocate nityaṃ pārthaiḥ sātatā na vigrahaḥ |
kurubhyo hi sadā manye pāṇḍavān śaktimattarān ||
বৈশম্পায়নে ক’লে—মোৰ বাবে শম (শান্তি) সদায়েই প্ৰিয়; পৃথাপুত্ৰসকলৰ সৈতে বিবাদ মই নাচাওঁ। কিয়নো মই সদায় পাণ্ডৱসকলক কুৰুবংশতকৈ অধিক শক্তিশালী বুলি মানো।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds śama (peace) over vigraha (conflict), arguing that when a just and practical resolution is possible, conciliation is ethically preferable—especially when war would be self-destructive and strategically unwise.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, the speaker (Vaiśampāyana narrating) voices a pro-settlement stance: he discourages initiating war with the Pāṇḍavas, judging them stronger and warning that the Kauravas face the prospect of great ruin if they persist in hostility.