Shloka 52
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana
Keśava-vākya aftermath
कि ते जनक्षयेणेह कृतेन भरतर्षभ । यस्मिज्जिते जितं तत् स्यात् पुमानेक: स दृश्यताम्
ki te janakṣayeṇeha kṛtena bharatarṣabha | yasmiñ jite jitaṃ tat syāt pumān ekaḥ sa dṛśyatām ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—“भरतश्रेष्ठ! यहाँ जनक्षय कराने से तुम्हें क्या लाभ? अपने पक्ष में किसी एक ऐसे पुरुष को खोजो, जो अर्जुन को जीत सके; क्योंकि जिसके जीत लिए जाने पर विजय निश्चित मानी जाए।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse discourages indiscriminate mass slaughter and urges a restrained, goal-focused approach: seek a decisive contest through a capable champion rather than pursuing victory through widespread human destruction.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the looming conflict, addressing a Bharata leader and arguing that instead of causing large-scale casualties, they should identify a single warrior who can defeat Arjuna—since Arjuna’s defeat would effectively signal the opposing side’s success.