Shloka 41
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
एवं बहुविधा वाच: श्रूयन्ते सम परस्परम् । पाण्डवस्तवसंयुक्ता: पुत्राणां ते सुदारुणा:
evaṁ bahuvidhā vācaḥ śrūyante sama-parasparam | pāṇḍavas-tava-saṁyuktāḥ putrāṇāṁ te sudāruṇāḥ, mahārāja |
Sañjaya dit : «Ô grand roi, de toutes parts on entendait bien des propos échangés : des paroles qui louaient les Pāṇḍava et, dans le même souffle, accablaient tes fils d’un blâme dur et terrible. Ainsi, les conversations du camp laissaient paraître le jugement moral qui se formait autour de la conduite des deux partis à la veille de la guerre.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective speech becomes a moral mirror: society instinctively praises perceived righteousness (the Pāṇḍavas) and condemns perceived wrongdoing (the king’s sons). It suggests that adharma invites public censure, while dharmic conduct earns esteem—even amid the chaos of war.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in the surroundings of the armies, many mutual conversations are being heard. These remarks repeatedly include praise of the Pāṇḍavas and severe criticism of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, indicating the prevailing sentiment among those present.