Shloka 17
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 31 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Instructions to Sañjaya
Peace Appeal and Five-Village Proposal
स त्वमर्थ संशयितं विना तै- राशंससे पुत्रवशानुगो5स्य । अधर्मशब्दश्न महान् पृथिव्यां नेदं कर्म त्वत्समं भारताग्रय
sa tvam artha-saṁśayitaṁ vinā tair āśaṁsase putra-vaśānugo 'si | adharma-śabdaś ca mahān pṛthivyāṁ nedaṁ karma tvat-samaṁ bhāratāgrya bharata-vaṁśa-śiromaṇe ||
Sanjaya said: Yet you, swayed by your sons, still hope to seize the Pandavas’ entire wealth by isolating them—though the very success of such a plan is doubtful. And even if you were to succeed, a great cry of ‘adharma’ would spread across the earth, bringing you heavy disgrace. Such an act is not worthy of one like you, foremost of the Bharatas, crest-jewel of the Bharata lineage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not let filial attachment override dharma: unjustly dispossessing others—especially by isolating them—invites both practical failure and lasting public condemnation. Moral legitimacy and reputation are integral to rightful kingship.
Sanjaya addresses Dhritarashtra, warning that under his sons’ influence he is entertaining a plan to exclude the Pandavas and take their wealth. Sanjaya stresses the plan’s uncertainty and, more importantly, the widespread blame of adharma it would bring, making it unworthy of Dhritarashtra’s stature.