Shloka 28
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
संजय उवाच राजन पूर्वनिमित्तानि धर्मिष्ठानि विचिन्तय
sañjaya uvāca | rājan pūrvanimittāni dharmiṣṭhāni vicintaya | yo hi bhūtaprakāśe 'rthe paścāc cintayate naraḥ | tasya tat karma naiva syāt cintayā caiva naśyati ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «Oh rey, reflexiona sobre las causas anteriores—sobre aquellas consideraciones que una vez presentaste como las más acordes con el dharma. Quien se consume después pensando en lo ya sucedido no logra que ese hecho se cumpla de nuevo (ni que se deshaga); con tal desvelo sólo se arruina a sí mismo».
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sañjaya urges the king to ground his mind in dharmic reasoning and to stop destructive brooding over what is already done; anxiety about the past cannot undo events and instead harms the person who clings to it.
In the midst of the war reports, Sañjaya addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra, reminding him of the earlier ‘causes’ and justifications he had entertained (such as the dice-game and related decisions) and cautions him that lamenting after the fact will not change outcomes, only weaken him.