Shloka 9
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
मतं मतिमतां श्रेष्ठा: सर्वे प्रत्रृत मा चिरम् । एवं गते तु कि कार्य कि च कार्यतरं नूपा:,उस समय राजा दुर्योधनने सान्त्वनापूर्ण परम मधुर वाणीद्वारा उन महाधनुर्धर नरेशोंको सम्बोधित करके यह समयोचित बात कही--:बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ नरेश्वरो! तुम सब लोग शीघ्र बोलो, विलम्ब न करो, इस अवस्थामें हमलोगोंको क्या करना चाहिये और सबसे अधिक आवश्यक कर्तव्य क्या है?”
sañjaya uvāca | mataṃ matimatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ sarve prabrūta mā ciram | evaṃ gate tu kiṃ kāryaṃ kiṃ ca kāryataraṃ nṛpāḥ |
Sañjaya said: “O best among the wise, all of you speak your considered judgment—do not delay. Now that matters have come to this pass, what should be done, and what is the most urgent duty for us, O kings?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis, leadership requires prompt, collective deliberation: seek the best counsel, avoid delay, and distinguish between what is merely necessary and what is most urgent and duty-bound (kārya vs. kāryatara).
Sanjaya reports a moment of consultation among the Kaurava-side rulers: the leaders are being urged to state their opinions quickly about the next course of action and the most pressing obligation given the current turn of events.