Shloka 11
सूताभिजानीहि स्वकान् परान् वा रथान् ध्वजांश्वञापतत: समेतान् । युद्धवन् हाहं नाभिजानामि किंचि- न्मा सैन्यं स्वं छादयिष्ये पृषत्कै:
sañjaya uvāca |
sūtābhijānīhi svakān parān vā rathān dhvajāṃś cāpatataḥ sametān |
yuddhavan hāhaṃ nābhijānāmi kiñcin mā sainyaṃ svaṃ chādayiṣye pṛṣatkaiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : « Ô Sūta, reconnais-les—qu’ils soient des nôtres ou de l’ennemi—ces chars et ces étendards qui fondent ensemble sur nous. Car, dans l’ardeur du combat, je ne distingue plus rien comme “à nous” ou “à eux” ; qu’il n’arrive pas que je couvre de mes flèches notre propre armée. »
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid the frenzy of war, a fighter must preserve discernment and avoid harming one’s own side; ethical restraint requires verification before striking.
As chariots and standards surge together in a chaotic charge, the speaker urges the charioteer to identify whether the approaching forces are allies or enemies, fearing accidental attack on their own troops.