Shloka 31
अर्जुनस्य रथाश्वमोचनं कृष्णस्याश्वसेवा च
Arjuna’s Horses Freed; Krishna’s Equine Service
कुरव: पाण्डवाश्वैव वृष्णयोडन्ये च मानवा: । अहं च सह पुत्रेण अश्चुवा इति चिन्त्यताम्,कौरव-पाण्डव, वृष्णिवंशी योद्धा, अन्य मनुष्य तथा पुत्रसहित मैं--ये सभी अस्थिर (नाशवान) हैं--ऐसा चिन्तन करो
kuravāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva vṛṣṇayo 'nye ca mānavāḥ | ahaṃ ca saha putreṇa aśvāv iti cintyatām ||
Sañjaya dit : «Qu’on médite ceci : les Kurus et les Pāṇḍava, les Vṛṣṇi et les autres hommes —et moi aussi, avec mon fils, et même les chevaux—, tous sont instables et périssables.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches contemplation of impermanence: all parties in war—friends and foes alike, even animals—are transient. This reflection restrains arrogance, hatred, and possessiveness, and frames action within ethical sobriety.
In Drona Parva’s battle context, Sañjaya reports a reflective admonition: instead of being consumed by factional identity (Kuru, Pāṇḍava, Vṛṣṇi), one should recognize that everyone present in the conflict is subject to destruction.