Shloka 86
अध्याय २३ — संजयस्योपप्लव्यगमनम् तथा युधिष्ठिरकुशलप्रश्नाः
Sanjaya’s Arrival at Upaplavya and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Welfare Inquiries
धार्तराष्ट्रा: पाण्डवा: सूंजया श्च ये चाप्यन्ये संनिविष्टा नरेन्द्रा: । पाण्डुके सभी पुत्र इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी हैं। वे किसी भी स्वार्थके लिये कभी धर्मका त्याग नहीं करते। अतः अजातशत्रो! आप ही इस समस्याको हल कीजिये, जिससे धृतराष्ट्रके सभी पुत्र, पाण्डव, सूंजयवंशी क्षत्रिय तथा अन्य नरेश, जो आकर सेनाकी छावनीमें टिके हुए हैं, कल्याणके भागी हों
dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sūñjayāś ca ye cāpy anye saṃniviṣṭā narendrāḥ | pāṇḍoḥ putrāḥ sabhī indrake samāna parākramī haiṃ | ve kisī bhī svārthake liye kabhī dharmakā tyāga nahīṃ karate | ataḥ ajātaśatro! āpa hī is samasyāko hal kījiye, jisase dhṛtarāṣṭrake sabhī putra, pāṇḍava, sūñjayavaṃśī kṣatriya tathā anya nareśa, jo ākara senākī chāvanīmeṃ ṭike hue haiṃ, kalyāṇake bhāgī hoṃ
Sañjaya said: “The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Pāṇḍavas, the Sūñjayas, and the other kings who have assembled and taken their stations—Pāṇḍu’s sons are all valorous like Indra. For no personal gain do they ever abandon dharma. Therefore, O Ajātaśatru, you must resolve this crisis in such a way that all may attain welfare: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, the Pāṇḍavas, the Sūñjaya-line kṣatriyas, and the other rulers who have come and are encamped with the army.”
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical leadership as prioritizing dharma over self-interest and urges a solution that secures the welfare (kalyāṇa) of all stakeholders—even opposing camps—rather than victory at any cost.
Sañjaya describes the assembled factions—Kauravas, Pāṇḍavas, allied Sūñjaya kṣatriyas, and other kings encamped for war—and appeals to Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) to find a resolution that prevents ruin and benefits everyone gathered in the military camp.