Shloka 96
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 137 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa Counsel and the Ethics of Restraint
प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ भ्रातृभि: सह पाण्डवै: | “घोषयात्राके समय ये कर्ण आदि योद्धा तुम्हारे साथ थे। तुम स्वयं भी रथ और कवच आदिसे सम्पन्न थे
praśāmya bharataśreṣṭha bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ | ghoṣayātrā-kāle ye karṇa-ādayo yoddhās tava saha āsan | tvaṃ svayam api ratha-kavaca-ādi-sampannaḥ san tathāpi arjunenaiva tvaṃ gandharva-hastāt mocitaḥ | tasya śaktiṃ jñātuṃ eṣa eva dṛṣṭāntaḥ paryāptaḥ | ataḥ bharataśreṣṭha tvam eva bhrātṛbhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha sandhiṃ kuru ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Apaise-toi, ô le meilleur des Bharata, et fais la paix avec tes propres frères, les Pāṇḍava. Lors de l’expédition du rapt de bétail, des guerriers tels que Karṇa étaient à tes côtés, et toi-même tu étais pourvu de char, d’armure et du reste ; pourtant, Arjuna, à lui seul, te délivra des mains des Gandharva. Cet unique exemple suffit à mesurer sa puissance. C’est pourquoi, ô le meilleur des Bharata, conclus un accord avec les Pāṇḍava, tes frères.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges restraint and reconciliation: recognizing Arjuna’s demonstrated strength and the futility of pride, the addressee is advised to choose peace (sandhi) with the Pāṇḍavas rather than escalate toward war.
Vaiśampāyana recalls the ghoṣayātrā incident where, despite being supported by warriors like Karṇa and being well-armed, the Kaurava leader was captured by Gandharvas and was freed only through Arjuna’s intervention; this is cited as evidence to counsel making peace with the Pāṇḍavas.