Shloka 52
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana
Keśava-vākya aftermath
कि ते जनक्षयेणेह कृतेन भरतर्षभ । यस्मिज्जिते जितं तत् स्यात् पुमानेक: स दृश्यताम्
ki te janakṣayeṇeha kṛtena bharatarṣabha | yasmiñ jite jitaṃ tat syāt pumān ekaḥ sa dṛśyatām ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—“হে ভরতশ্রেষ্ঠ, এখানে জনক্ষয় ঘটিয়ে তোমার কী লাভ? তোমার পক্ষ থেকে এমন এক জন বীরকে খুঁজে দেখো, যে অর্জুনকে পরাজিত করতে পারে; কারণ তাকে জয় করা গেলে বিজয় নিশ্চিত বলে গণ্য হবে।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse discourages indiscriminate mass slaughter and urges a restrained, goal-focused approach: seek a decisive contest through a capable champion rather than pursuing victory through widespread human destruction.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the looming conflict, addressing a Bharata leader and arguing that instead of causing large-scale casualties, they should identify a single warrior who can defeat Arjuna—since Arjuna’s defeat would effectively signal the opposing side’s success.