Shloka 7
Sañjaya’s Knowledge of Keśava and the Discipline of Indriya-nigraha (संजयस्य केशवज्ञानम्—इन्द्रियनिग्रह-उपदेशः)
राजन! आप जो बारंबार पाण्डवोंके विषयमें, उनके सार या असारभूत बलको जाननेके लिये मुझसे पूछते रहते हैं, वह सब आप मुझसे संक्षेपमें सुनिये ।। एकतो वा जगत् कृत्स्नमेकतो वा जनार्दन: । सारतो जगत: कृत्स्नादतिरिक्तो जनार्दन:
rājan! āpa yo bārambāra pāṇḍavānāṃ viṣaye, teṣāṃ sāra-vā asāra-bhūtaṃ balaṃ jñātuṃ mama pṛcchasi, tat sarvaṃ mama saṃkṣepataḥ śṛṇu. ekato vā jagat kṛtsnam ekato vā janārdanaḥ | sārato jagataḥ kṛtsnād atirikto janārdanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, you ask me again and again about the Pāṇḍavas, wishing to know whether their strength is truly substantial or only seeming; hear my answer in brief. Let the whole world stand on one side, and Janārdana alone on the other—yet in essential worth Janārdana surpasses the entire world.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
True power is not measured by numbers or worldly might; the decisive ‘essence’ lies with dharma and the divine support embodied by Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa). Hence, even if the whole world were opposed, Kṛṣṇa’s presence outweighs it in real worth.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra repeatedly presses Sañjaya to assess the Pāṇḍavas’ real strength. Sañjaya replies succinctly with a striking comparison: the entire world on one side and Kṛṣṇa alone on the other—asserting that Kṛṣṇa surpasses all in essential power, implying the Pāṇḍavas’ advantage through him.