Shloka 3
Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
किमिदं साहसं राजंस्त्वया व्याहृतमीदृशम् । एकमेव निहत्याजौ भव राजा कुरुष्विति,“राजन! आपने क्यों ऐसी दुःसाहस पूर्ण बात कह डाली कि “तुम हममेंसे एकको ही मारकर कौरवोंका राजा हो जाओ'
sañjaya uvāca | kim idaṃ sāhasaṃ rājan tvayā vyāhṛtam īdṛśam | ekam eva nihatya ājau bhava rājā kuruṣv iti |
Sañjaya dit : « Ô roi, quelle est donc cette parole téméraire et inconsidérée que tu as proférée ? “Qu’il n’en tue qu’un seul d’entre nous au combat et qu’il devienne roi des Kuru” — pourquoi avancer une proposition si audacieuse et si périlleuse pour la droiture ? »
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against sāhasa—reckless, ethically hazardous speech—especially in matters of war and kingship. It implies that ambition framed as ‘kill just one and rule’ trivializes violence and destabilizes dharma-guided counsel.
In the Sañjaya–Dhṛtarāṣṭra narration frame, Sañjaya questions the king about a bold proposal that someone could become ruler of the Kurus by killing only one opponent in battle, highlighting the audacity and moral risk of such a statement.