Shloka 26
अब्रवीतू् स महाबाहुस्तात संशाम्य पाण्डवै: । प्रशमाद्धि भवेच्छान्तिर्मदन्तं युद्धमस्तु व:
abravīt sa mahābāhus tāta saṁśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ | praśamād dhi bhavec chāntir mad-antaṁ yuddham astu vaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Then that mighty-armed one spoke: ‘Dear son, restrain yourself toward the Pāṇḍavas. For from self-control arises peace. Let this war come to an end with me—may it not continue beyond my lifetime for your sake.’”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Peace (śānti) is presented as the fruit of praśama—self-restraint and calming of hostility. The verse frames ethical governance as the ability to curb aggression rather than escalate conflict.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reports a statement by a ‘mighty-armed’ figure who urges a son to restrain himself toward the Pāṇḍavas and to let the war end, emphasizing reconciliation and the moral necessity of stopping further bloodshed.