Shloka 42
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
भीष्मपर्वणि तु द्विचत्वारिंशोडध्याय:
atattvāṁ klībavad vākyaṁ bravīmi kurunandana | bhṛto 'smy arthena kauravya yuddhād anyat kim icchasi ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O Freude der Kurus, heute rede ich Worte, die nicht würdig sind — wie die eines Feiglings. O Sohn des Kuru, die Kauravas haben mich mit ihrem Reichtum erhalten; darum, außer auf ihrer Seite zu kämpfen, was willst du sonst, dass ich tue? Sage es mir.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal conscience and obligations created by patronage: being materially supported can bind one to a side in conflict, even when one feels the stance is morally weak or ‘unworthy’.
Sanjaya reports a speaker’s admission of reluctant, self-deprecating speech and explains his constraint: since the Kauravas have maintained him, he sees no option but to fight for them, asking what alternative is expected.