Shloka 18
यथा तयोर्युद्धमभूद् यश्चासीद् विजयी तयो: । तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन कुशलो हासि संजय,संजय! उन दोनों वीरोंमें जिस प्रकार युद्ध हुआ और उनमेंसे जिस एकको विजय प्राप्त हुई, उसका वह सब समाचार मुझे ठीक-ठीक बताओ; क्योंकि तुम इस कार्यमें कुशल हो
yathā tayor yuddham abhūd yaś cāsīd vijayī tayoḥ | tan mamācakṣva tattvena kuśalo hāsi sañjaya ||
Sañjaya said: “Tell me truthfully, in full detail, how the battle between those two heroes took place, and which of the two emerged victorious. Report it exactly as it happened, O Sañjaya—for you are skilled in conveying such matters.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical narration: events—especially violent ones—should be reported “tattvena,” truthfully and without distortion. Competence (kuśalatā) in speech is valued when it serves accuracy and responsible witnessing.
A request is made to Sanjaya to recount a specific duel between two warriors: how the fight unfolded and which combatant won. The speaker relies on Sanjaya’s skill as a reporter of battlefield events.