Shloka 15
अध्याय 24 — संजयस्य शमोपदेशः
Sanjaya’s Counsel Toward Conciliation
प्राणान् दद्याद् याचमान: कुतो<न्य- देतद् विद्वन् साधनार्थ ब्रवीमि । एतद् राज्ञो भीष्मपुरोगमस्य मतं यद् वः शान्तिरिहोत्तमा स्थात्
sañjaya uvāca |
prāṇān dadyād yācamānaḥ kuto 'nya-
d etad vidvan sādhana-artha bravīmi |
etad rājño bhīṣma-puro-gamasya
mataṃ yad vaḥ śāntir iha uttamā sthāt ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «Si yo se lo pidiera, daría incluso su propia vida—¿qué decir entonces de cualquier otra cosa? Oh sabio rey Yudhiṣṭhira, digo esto sólo para cumplir el propósito de la reconciliación. Ésta es también la opinión ponderada del rey, con Bhīṣma a la cabeza: que así puede establecerse aquí para todos vosotros la paz más alta.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that sincere peace-making should be pursued when goodwill and willingness to sacrifice exist; ethical counsel aims at preventing needless war by establishing the ‘highest peace’ through reconciliation.
Sanjaya addresses Yudhishthira, stressing Arjuna’s readiness to give even his life if asked, and explains that he is speaking to facilitate a successful settlement; he adds that Bhishma and King Dhritarashtra also favor this course as the best path to peace.