Shloka 8
अध्याय २३ — संजयस्योपप्लव्यगमनम् तथा युधिष्ठिरकुशलप्रश्नाः
Sanjaya’s Arrival at Upaplavya and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Welfare Inquiries
न कामार्थ संत्यजेयूुर्हि धर्म पाण्डो: सुता: सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पा: । त्वमेवैतत् प्रज्याजातशत्रो समीकुर्या येन शर्मप्नुयुस्ते
na kāmārthaṃ santyajeyur hi dharmaṃ pāṇḍoḥ sutāḥ sarva evendrakalpāḥ | tvam evaitat prajāyā jātśatro samīkuryā yena śarmāpnuyus te ||
Sañjaya dit : « Les fils de Pāṇḍu — chacun semblable à Indra — n’abandonneraient jamais le dharma pour le désir ou le profit. C’est pourquoi, ô Ajātaśatru, c’est à toi-même de mener cet accord avec les tiens, afin qu’ils obtiennent la paix et le bien-être. »
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility is shown by refusing to sacrifice dharma for personal desire (kāma) or advantage (artha). The verse urges responsible leadership: the king should actively pursue a just settlement that secures peace and welfare rather than letting greed and passion drive events toward war.
Sañjaya, speaking in the Udyoga Parva context of impending conflict, emphasizes the Pāṇḍavas’ steadfastness in dharma and urges Ajātaśatru (addressed as the king) to arrange a conciliatory resolution with his own side/kinsmen so that peace (śarma) may be achieved.