Shloka 7
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
अप्याशिष्म वयमर्जुन त्वयि यियासवो बहु कल्याणमिष्टम् । तन्न: सर्व विफल राजपुत्र फलार्थिनां विफल इवातिपुष्प:
sañjaya uvāca |
apy āśiṣma vayam arjuna tvayi yiyāsavo bahu kalyāṇam iṣṭam |
tan naḥ sarvaṁ viphalam rājaputra phalārthināṁ viphalam ivātipuṣpaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O prince Arjuna, we had placed our hopes in you, longing to obtain many auspicious and desired results. But now all that hope of ours has proved fruitless—just as a tree laden with excessive blossoms yet bearing no fruit disappoints those who seek fruit.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against relying on mere promise or outward display: abundant blossoms without fruit symbolize impressive appearance without results. Ethically, it underscores accountability—hopes placed in a leader or agent must be fulfilled through effective action, not just potential.
Sañjaya addresses Arjuna with reproachful disappointment, saying that the expectations invested in Arjuna for achieving auspicious outcomes have failed, likening Arjuna (or the situation) to a heavily blossoming yet fruitless tree that frustrates those seeking results.