Shloka 34
तमेवमुक्त्वाप्यनुनीय चासकृत् तवात्मज: स्वाननुशास्ति सैनिकान् | विनिध्नताभिद्रवताहितान् मम सबाणहस्ता: किमु जोषमासत,अश्वत्थामासे ऐसा कहकर बारंबार अनुनय-विनयके द्वारा उसे प्रसन्न करके आपके पुत्रने अपने सैनिकोंको आदेश देते हुए कहा--“अरे! तुमलोग हाथोंमें बाण लिये चुपचाप बैठे क्यों हो? मेरे शत्रुओंपर टूट पड़ो और उन्हें मार डालो”
tam evam uktvāpy anunīya cāsakṛt tava ātmajaḥ svān anuśāsti sainikān | vinighnatābhidravatahitān mama sabāṇahastāḥ kimu joṣam āsata ||
Sañjaya said: Even after speaking to him thus, and repeatedly conciliating and pleasing him with entreaty, your son then issued orders to his own troops: “Why are you sitting idle with arrows in your hands? Rush upon my enemies and strike them down!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war-leadership: a ruler’s duty to direct troops can slide into impatient incitement to violence. It shows how persuasion and command are used to mobilize force, raising questions about restraint, responsibility, and the moral weight of ordering killing.
Sañjaya reports that after repeatedly placating someone (contextually, a key warrior/ally), Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana) turns to his own troops and sharply commands them to stop sitting idle with arrows in hand and to charge the enemy and kill.