Shloka 16
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
सर्वे हि बुद्धिमाज्ञाय प्रज्ञां वापि स्वकां नरा: । चेष्टन्ते विविधां चेष्टां हितमित्येव जानते
sarve hi buddhim ājñāya prajñāṃ vāpi svakāṃ narāḥ | ceṣṭante vividhāṃ ceṣṭāṃ hitam ity eva jānate ||
Sañjaya dit : «Car tous les hommes, s’appuyant sur leur propre entendement —ou sur ce qu’ils prennent pour discernement— se mettent à agir de mille manières, et tiennent ces actes pour profitables à eux seuls.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
People typically act on the basis of their own intellect or supposed discernment, and they tend to label their chosen actions as ‘beneficial’—often without testing that belief against broader dharma, consequences, or the welfare of others.
Sañjaya offers a reflective observation about human motivation and decision-making in the aftermath of the war, framing how individuals justify diverse actions as being for their own good.