Shloka 48
अनुतोक्तं प्रजां हन्यात् तत: पापमवाप्नुयाम् तस्माद् धर्माभिरक्षार्थ नानृतं वक्तुमुत्सहे,“असत्य भाषण प्रजाका नाश कर देता है, अतः मैं झूठ बोलनेसे पापका भागी होऊँगा; इसीलिये धर्मकी रक्षाके उद्देश्यसे मैं मिथ्या भाषण नहीं कर सकता
anutoktaṃ prajāṃ hanyāt tataḥ pāpam avāpnuyām tasmād dharmābhirakṣārtha nānṛtaṃ vaktum utsahe
Sañjaya said: “If I were to speak what ought not to be spoken, it could bring ruin upon the people, and I would incur sin thereby. Therefore, for the sake of safeguarding dharma, I do not have the heart to utter falsehood.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech has moral consequences: falsehood (anṛta) and irresponsible disclosure can harm society (prajā) and generate sin (pāpa). Therefore one should restrain speech and uphold truth for the protection of dharma.
Sañjaya, speaking in the war narrative, expresses reluctance to utter untruth or harmful words. He frames his restraint as a duty to protect dharma and to avoid causing harm to the people and incurring moral blame.