Shloka 96
प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ भ्रातृभि: सह पाण्डवै: | “घोषयात्राके समय ये कर्ण आदि योद्धा तुम्हारे साथ थे। तुम स्वयं भी रथ और कवच आदिसे सम्पन्न थे, तथापि अर्जुनने ही तुम्हें गन्धवोके हाथसे छुड़ाया था। उनकी शक्तिको समझनेके लिये यही उदाहरण पर्याप्त होगा। अतः भरतश्रेष्ठ! तुम अपने ही भाई पाण्डवोंके साथ संधि कर लो
praśāmya bharataśreṣṭha bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ | ghoṣayātrā-kāle ye karṇa-ādayo yoddhās tava saha āsan | tvaṃ svayam api ratha-kavaca-ādi-sampannaḥ san tathāpi arjunenaiva tvaṃ gandharva-hastāt mocitaḥ | tasya śaktiṃ jñātuṃ eṣa eva dṛṣṭāntaḥ paryāptaḥ | ataḥ bharataśreṣṭha tvam eva bhrātṛbhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha sandhiṃ kuru ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Be appeased, O best of the Bharatas, and make peace with your own brothers, the Pāṇḍavas. At the time of the cattle-raid excursion, warriors such as Karṇa were with you, and you yourself were equipped with chariot, armor, and the rest; yet it was Arjuna alone who rescued you from the hands of the Gandharvas. This single example is sufficient to understand his power. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, conclude a settlement with the Pāṇḍavas, your brothers.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges restraint and reconciliation: recognizing Arjuna’s demonstrated strength and the futility of pride, the addressee is advised to choose peace (sandhi) with the Pāṇḍavas rather than escalate toward war.
Vaiśampāyana recalls the ghoṣayātrā incident where, despite being supported by warriors like Karṇa and being well-armed, the Kaurava leader was captured by Gandharvas and was freed only through Arjuna’s intervention; this is cited as evidence to counsel making peace with the Pāṇḍavas.