Shloka 20
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय २५: संजयदूतवाक्यम्
Sañjaya’s Envoy-Speech on Peace
आशंसते वै धृतराष्ट्र: सपुत्रो महाराज्यमसपत्नं॑ पृथिव्याम् | तस्मिज्छम: केवल नोपलभ्य: सर्व स्वकं मद्गते मन्यते<र्थम्
āśaṃsate vai dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputro mahārājyam asapatnaṃ pṛthivyām | tasmiñ chamaḥ kevala nopalabhyaḥ sarvaṃ svakaṃ madgate manyate 'rtham ||
Sañjaya said: Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with his sons, is cherishing the hope of an unrivalled imperial sovereignty upon the earth. With such a man, mere peace cannot truly be secured; for he now regards as his own the entire wealth and advantage that came into his hands when we were driven away. Therefore, I do not see—despite much reflection—any means by which the welfare of both the Kuru line and the Pāṇḍava line can be preserved without the danger of conflict.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unrestrained ambition and possessiveness make genuine peace impossible; when a ruler treats others’ rightful wealth and status as his own, ethical settlement (śama) collapses and conflict becomes likely.
Sañjaya reports the political reality: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his sons are hoping for an uncontested empire and have begun to treat the Pāṇḍavas’ interests as their own, so Sañjaya doubts that a lasting peace agreement can be maintained.