Shloka 107
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
वधे धृतो वेगवतः प्रमुडचन् नाहं प्रजा: किंचिदिहावशिष्ये | शान्तिं लप्स्ये परमो होष भाव: स्थिरो मम ब्रूहि गावल्गणे तान्,'जैसे गर्मीमें प्रजज्लित हुई आग जब वनको जलाने लगती है, तब किसी भी वृक्षको बाकी नहीं छोड़ती, उसी प्रकार मैं शत्रुओंके वधके लिये सुसज्जित हो अस्त्रसंचालनकी विभिन्न रीतियोंका आश्रय ले स्थूणाकर्ण, महान् पाशुपतास्त्र, ब्रह्मास्त्र तथा जिसे इन्द्रने मुझे दिया था, उस इन्द्रास्त्रका भी प्रयोग करूँगा और वेगशाली बाणोंकी वर्षा करके इस युद्धमें किसीको भी जीवित नहीं छोडूँगा। ऐसा करनेपर ही मुझे शान्ति मिलेगी। संजय! तुम उनसे स्पष्ट कह देना कि मेरा यह दृढ़ और उत्तम निश्चय है
vadhe dhṛto vegavataḥ pramudacan nāhaṃ prajāḥ kiṃcid ihāvaśiṣye | śāntiṃ lapsye paramo hoṣa-bhāvaḥ sthiro mama brūhi gāvalgaṇe tān |
Sanjaya said: “Resolved upon slaughter, exulting in my own speed and force, I shall leave no people here remaining. Only then will I obtain peace. This is my supreme and unwavering determination—go, O Gāvalgaṇa, and tell them so plainly.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes a tragic ethical inversion common in war rhetoric: the speaker equates ‘peace’ with total annihilation of opponents and even the wider populace. It highlights how anger and martial pride can masquerade as a quest for peace, thereby challenging dharmic discernment about means and ends.
Sañjaya reports a message of uncompromising intent: the speaker declares a firm resolve to spare no one and instructs Sañjaya (addressed as Gāvalgaṇa) to convey this determination to the other side. It functions as a threat and a declaration of policy in the escalating pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva.