Shloka 43
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
हीयमानेन वै सन्धि: पर्येष्टव्य:ः समेन वा । विग्रहो वर्धमानेन मतिरेषा बृहस्पते:
sañjaya uvāca |
hīyamānena vai sandhiḥ paryeṣṭavyaḥ samena vā |
vigraho vardhamānena matireṣā bṛhaspateḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “When one’s strength is declining—or even when it is merely equal—one should seek a treaty. But when one’s power is on the rise, then one should choose open conflict. Such, they say, is the counsel of Bṛhaspati.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a principle of statecraft: seek peace or alliance when your power is weakening or only equal to the opponent’s, but undertake war when your strength is increasing—attributing this pragmatic counsel to Bṛhaspati.
Sañjaya reports a maxim of political wisdom within the war narrative, framing decisions about treaty (sandhi) versus conflict (vigraha) as contingent on relative strength, and citing Bṛhaspati as the authoritative source.