Shloka 58
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा द्रष्टा पततः स्यन्दने भ्यो महागजेभ्यो5श्वगतान् सुयोधनान् । शरैहतान् पातितांश्वैव रड्े तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्
sañjaya uvāca | yadā draṣṭā patataḥ syandane bhyo mahāgajebhyo ’śvagatān suyodhanān | śaraiḥ hatān pātitāṃś caiva raṇe tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro ’nutapsyat ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Wenn Duryodhana seine Krieger—die von Streitwagen, von mächtigen Elefanten und vom Pferderücken kämpfen—von Pfeilen getroffen und auf das Schlachtfeld stürzen sieht, dann wird der Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras von Reue ergriffen werden, weil er den Krieg gewählt hat.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of choosing adharma: when the reality of mass death becomes undeniable, the instigator of conflict is forced into remorse. It implies that power and pride cannot shield one from the moral consequences of violence.
Sañjaya foretells that Duryodhana will witness his own forces—fighters from chariots, elephants, and horses—being struck down by arrows and collapsing on the battlefield, and that this sight will make him regret having pursued war.