तेजोवधनिमित्तं तु परुषं त्वाहमब्रुवम् । अकस्मात् पाण्डवान् सर्वनवाक्षिपसि सुव्रत
tejo-vadha-nimittaṁ tu paruṣaṁ tvāham abruvam | akasmāt pāṇḍavān sarva-navākṣipasi suvrata ||
Sañjaya said: “It was only with the aim of checking your swelling pride that I spoke to you harshly. O man of good vows, why do you suddenly assail the Pāṇḍavas with entirely new accusations?”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights ethical restraint in speech: harsh words may be used only with a corrective intent—here, to curb arrogance—yet unjustified, sudden accusations against others (the Pāṇḍavas) are questioned as improper.
Sañjaya explains that his earlier harshness was deliberate and corrective, aimed at checking the listener’s pride. He then challenges the listener for abruptly launching fresh verbal attacks or accusations against the Pāṇḍavas.