Shloka 17
जानन्निमं सर्वलोकस्य धर्म विप्रेन्द्राणां क्षत्रियाणां विशां च । स कस्मात् त्वं जानतां ज्ञानवान् सन् व्यायच्छसे संजय कौरवार्थे
jānann imaṃ sarvalokasya dharmaṃ viprendrāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ viśāṃ ca | sa kasmāt tvaṃ jānatāṃ jñānavān san vyāyacchase saṃjaya kauravārthe ||
Vāyu dit : «Tu connais ce dharma qui soutient tous les mondes — la conduite qui convient aux plus éminents des brāhmaṇa, aux kṣatriya et aussi aux vaiśya. Pourquoi donc, ô Saṃjaya, toi qui es sage et du nombre de ceux qui comprennent, te retiens-tu et recules-tu au profit des Kaurava ?»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Knowledge of dharma carries an obligation to act in alignment with it. Vāyu challenges Saṃjaya that wisdom is not merely intellectual; it should translate into ethical speech and conduct, rather than self-censorship or restraint motivated by partisan loyalty to the Kauravas.
Vāyu addresses Saṃjaya directly, reminding him that he understands the duties and ethical norms governing the major social orders (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya). Vāyu then questions why Saṃjaya, despite being knowledgeable, is ‘holding back’ or restraining himself in a way that serves Kaurava interests—implying a tension between truth/dharma and political allegiance.