Shloka 2
अध्याय 24 — संजयस्य शमोपदेशः
Sanjaya’s Counsel Toward Conciliation
संजय उवाच अजातशत्रुं च वृकोदरं च धनंजयं माद्रवतीसुतौ च । आमन्त्रये वासुदेवं च शौरिं युयुधानं चेकितानं विराटम्
sañjaya uvāca | ajātaśatruṃ ca vṛkodaraṃ ca dhanañjayaṃ mādravatīsutau ca | āmantṛye vāsudevaṃ ca śauriṃ yuyudhānaṃ cekitānaṃ virāṭam |
Sañjaya said: “I summon Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira), Vṛkodara (Bhīma), Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), and the two sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva). I also summon Vāsudeva—Śauri (Kṛṣṇa), Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki), Cekitāna, and Virāṭa.” In context, this is a formal calling together of key allies and leaders, offered as counsel for the welfare of the Kauravas and as an appeal to hear words meant to avert ruin through adharma and war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores responsible counsel and collective deliberation: major leaders are formally convened so that speech aimed at the ‘welfare of the Kauravas’ may be heard. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s insistence that before resorting to war, one must exhaust dharmic avenues—consultation, truthful speech, and attempts at reconciliation.
Sañjaya reports a formal summoning of prominent Pāṇḍava-aligned figures—Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Kṛṣṇa, Sātyaki, Cekitāna, and Virāṭa—indicating a gathering of key stakeholders in the tense pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva.