Shloka 96
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 137 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa Counsel and the Ethics of Restraint
प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ भ्रातृभि: सह पाण्डवै: | “घोषयात्राके समय ये कर्ण आदि योद्धा तुम्हारे साथ थे। तुम स्वयं भी रथ और कवच आदिसे सम्पन्न थे
praśāmya bharataśreṣṭha bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ | ghoṣayātrā-kāle ye karṇa-ādayo yoddhās tava saha āsan | tvaṃ svayam api ratha-kavaca-ādi-sampannaḥ san tathāpi arjunenaiva tvaṃ gandharva-hastāt mocitaḥ | tasya śaktiṃ jñātuṃ eṣa eva dṛṣṭāntaḥ paryāptaḥ | ataḥ bharataśreṣṭha tvam eva bhrātṛbhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha sandhiṃ kuru ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Lass ab, o Bester der Bharatas, und schließe Frieden mit deinen eigenen Brüdern, den Pāṇḍavas. Zur Zeit des Viehraubzuges waren Krieger wie Karṇa an deiner Seite, und du selbst warst mit Wagen, Rüstung und allem Übrigen ausgerüstet; und doch war es Arjuna allein, der dich aus den Händen der Gandharvas befreite. Dieses eine Beispiel genügt, um seine Macht zu erkennen. Darum, o Bester der Bharatas, triff eine Einigung mit den Pāṇḍavas, deinen Brüdern.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges restraint and reconciliation: recognizing Arjuna’s demonstrated strength and the futility of pride, the addressee is advised to choose peace (sandhi) with the Pāṇḍavas rather than escalate toward war.
Vaiśampāyana recalls the ghoṣayātrā incident where, despite being supported by warriors like Karṇa and being well-armed, the Kaurava leader was captured by Gandharvas and was freed only through Arjuna’s intervention; this is cited as evidence to counsel making peace with the Pāṇḍavas.