Shloka 18
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
दृष्टवैव च पुरे राजज्जन: सर्व: स संजयम् । क्लेशेन महता युक्त सर्वतो राजसत्तम
dṛṣṭvaiva ca pure rājan janaḥ sarvaḥ sa sañjayam | kleśena mahatā yuktaṃ sarvato rājasattama ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô Roi, dès que tout le peuple de la cité vit Sañjaya, une grande détresse les frappa de toutes parts : si lourd était le fardeau de peine qu’il portait, si funeste était son arrivée au lendemain de la guerre.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the consequences of adharma and war spread beyond the battlefield: even a messenger’s appearance can awaken collective sorrow, reminding rulers that public suffering is an ethical cost of conflict.
In the city, people see Sañjaya and immediately feel intense distress, sensing from his condition and presence that grave news has arrived from the war-front.