Shloka 17
Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ
The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account
काषायं सुलभ पश्चान्मुनीनां शममिच्छताम् । साम्राज्यं तु भवेच्छक्यं वयं योत्स्यामहे परान्,ऐसा करनेपर तो शान्तिकी इच्छा रखनेवाले संन्यासियोंका गेरुआ वस्त्र ही हमें सुलभ होगा, परंतु हमलोग साम्राज्यको प्राप्त करनेमें समर्थ हैं; अतः हमलोग शत्रुओंसे अवश्य युद्ध करेंगे
kāṣāyaṃ sulabha paścān munīnāṃ śamam icchatām | sāmrājyaṃ tu bhavec chakyaṃ vayaṃ yotsyāmahe parān ||
Arjuna said: “If we were to act otherwise, what would become easy for us afterward would only be the ochre robe of renunciants who seek peace. But we are capable of attaining sovereignty; therefore we shall certainly fight our enemies.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna contrasts renunciation with royal duty: for a kṣatriya, abandoning rightful action leads only to the outward marks of ascetic peace, whereas pursuing just sovereignty requires the courage to confront enemies; thus he affirms decisive action aligned with one’s svadharma.
In the Sabha Parva context of counsel and political crisis, Arjuna declares that retreating into a peace-seeking ascetic posture is not their path; since they have the strength and claim to rule, he urges that they will fight their opponents to secure sovereignty.