Shloka 12
Droṇa’s Defensive Stand and Abhimanyu Commissioned to Breach the Cakravyūha (द्रोणानीक-प्रतिरोधः; सौभद्र-नियोजनम्)
संजय उवाच स्थिरो भव महाराज शोकं धारय दुर्धरम् महान्तं बन्धुनाशं ते कथयिष्यामि तच्छुणु,संजयने कहा--महाराज! स्थिर हो जाइये और जिसे धारण करना कठिन है, उस शोकको अपने हृदयमें ही रोके रखिये। मैं आपसे बन्धु-बान्धवोंके महान् विनाशका वर्णन करूँगा, उसे सुनिये
sañjaya uvāca | sthiro bhava mahārāja śokaṃ dhāraya durdharam | mahāntaṃ bandhunāśaṃ te kathayiṣyāmi tac chṛṇu ||
Sañjaya dit : «Sois ferme, ô grand roi. Retiens en toi ce chagrin si difficile à porter. Je vais te raconter l’immense destruction de tes proches : écoute.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges steadiness and self-restraint in the face of unbearable sorrow, emphasizing the kingly virtue of composure when hearing painful truth—especially the consequences of war upon one’s own kin.
Sañjaya prepares Dhṛtarāṣṭra to hear a report of massive losses among his relatives in the battle, asking him to remain firm as the forthcoming account will be grievous.