Shloka 3
अध्याय २६ — युद्ध-निन्दा, काम-दोष, तथा धार्तराष्ट्र-नीति-विश्लेषण
War-aversion, Desire as a Policy Fault, and Analysis of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Governance
अल्पकालं जीवितं यन्मनुष्ये महास्रावं नित्यदुः:खं चल॑ च । भूयश्व तद् यशसो नानुरूपं तस्मात् पाप॑ पाण्डव मा कृथास्त्वम्,मनुष्यका जो यह जीवन है, वह बहुत थोड़े समयतक रहनेवाला है। इसको क्षीण करनेवाले महान् दोष इसे प्राप्त होते रहते हैं। यह सदा दुःखमय और चंचल है। अतः पाण्डुनन्दन! आप युद्धरूपी पाप न कीजिये। वह आपके सुयशके अनुरूप नहीं है
sañjaya uvāca | alpākālaṃ jīvitaṃ yan manuṣye mahāsrāvaṃ nityaduḥkhaṃ calaṃ ca | bhūyaś ca tad yaśaso nānurūpaṃ tasmāt pāpa pāṇḍava mā kṛthās tvam ||
Sañjaya said: “Human life is brief. It is continually worn away by great afflictions; it is ever sorrow-laden and unsteady. Moreover, such a deed is not in keeping with your good fame. Therefore, O Pāṇḍava, do not commit the sin of war.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Because human life is short, sorrowful, and unstable, one should avoid actions that add grave moral burden—especially war—when such action is not aligned with one’s dharma and good reputation (yaśas).
Sañjaya voices a moral warning addressed to a Pāṇḍava: he emphasizes the fragility of human life and urges restraint, advising that undertaking war would be a sinful act and unbecoming of the Pāṇḍava’s established fame.