Shloka 3
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय २५: संजयदूतवाक्यम्
Sañjaya’s Envoy-Speech on Peace
कुतो युद्ध जातु नरो5वगच्छेत् को देवशप्तो हि वृणीत युद्धम् । सुखैषिण: कर्म कुर्वन्ति पार्था धर्मादहीनं यच्च लोकस्य पथ्यम्
kuto yuddhaṃ jātu naro ’vagacchet ko devaśapto hi vṛṇīta yuddham | sukhaiṣiṇaḥ karma kurvanti pārthā dharmād ahīnaṃ yac ca lokasya pathyam ||
Sañjaya said: “Why would any man ever even conceive of war? Who, as though cursed by the gods, would knowingly choose battle? The sons of Kuntī, seeking well-being, undertake only such action as is not contrary to dharma and as is beneficial and wholesome for the people.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
War is not a natural or desirable choice for a sane person; righteous agents act for welfare, choosing deeds aligned with dharma and beneficial to society rather than pursuing conflict.
Sañjaya characterizes the Pāṇḍavas as peace-inclined and welfare-oriented, implying that if war arises it is not from their preference but from circumstances and others’ wrongdoing.