Shloka 16
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ७७: पुरुषकार–दैवसंयोगः तथा दुष्टमन्त्रपरामर्शस्य राजनैतिक-परिणामः
Human Effort, Contingency, and the Political Effects of Corrupt Counsel
अथवा मन्यसे ज्यायान् वधस्तेषामनन्तरम् | तदेव क्रियतामाशु न विचार्यमतस्त्वया
athavā manyase jyāyān vadhastēṣām anantaram | tad eva kriyatām āśu na vicāryam atas tvayā ||
“Or if you judge that the better course is the immediate slaying of those men, then let that alone be done at once; on this point you need not deliberate further.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna frames an ethical choice in terms of decisive action: if immediate killing is truly the superior dharmic option, then it should be carried out without further wavering. The emphasis is on consistency between judgment and action, and on avoiding paralyzing indecision in a grave moral crisis.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Arjuna speaks forcefully, urging that if the situation demands harsh measures, they should be executed promptly rather than prolonged through further debate. His words reflect the mounting urgency as negotiations and counsel approach the brink of war.