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Shloka 57

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

न युद्धधर्माच्छेयान्‌ हि पन्था: स्वर्गस्थ कौरवा:

na yuddhadharmāc chreyān hi panthāḥ svargastha kauravāḥ

Sañjaya sprach: „O Kauravas, die ihr den Himmel erlangt habt: Wahrlich, es gibt keinen Weg, der höher stünde als das Dharma der Schlacht.“

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
युद्धधर्मात्from the duty/law of battle
युद्धधर्मात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्धधर्म
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
श्रेयान्better
श्रेयान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेयस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
पन्थाःpath/way
पन्थाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपथिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्वर्गस्थO you who are in heaven
स्वर्गस्थ:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वर्गस्थ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Plural
कौरवाःO Kauravas
कौरवाः:
TypeNoun
Rootकौरव
FormMasculine, Vocative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kauravas
S
Svarga (heaven)

Educational Q&A

The verse asserts the primacy of yuddhadharma (righteous conduct and duty in battle) for warriors: when war is unavoidable and undertaken within dharma, steadfastness in one’s ordained duty is presented as a supremely beneficial path, even linked with heavenly attainment.

Sañjaya, narrating events and their moral framing, addresses the Kauravas as “svargastha” (those who have reached heaven), implying their death in battle and subsequent heavenly state, and he characterizes their chosen course as aligned with the warrior’s dharma.