Shloka 7
अध्याय 24 — संजयस्य शमोपदेशः
Sanjaya’s Counsel Toward Conciliation
सर्वक्षयो दृश्यते यत्र कृत्स्न: पापोदयो निरयो5भावसंस्थ: । कस्तत् कुर्याज्जातु कर्म प्रजानन् पराजयो यत्र समो जयश्नल
sarvakṣayo dṛśyate yatra kṛtsnaḥ pāpodayo nirayo ’bhāvasaṃsthaḥ | kas tat kuryāj jātu karma prajānann parājayo yatra samo jayaś ca ||
जिस कर्म में सर्वनाश स्पष्ट दिखता है, जिसमें पाप का पूर्ण उदय होता है, जिसका फल नरक है, जिसका अंत केवल शून्यता और हानि है, और जहाँ जय-पराजय दोनों समान हैं—ऐसे युद्ध-जैसे कठोर कर्म को जान-बूझकर कौन बुद्धिमान कभी करेगा?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues from consequences: war brings universal destruction and the rise of sin, leads toward hellish results, and ends in emptiness; therefore a discerning person should not initiate such an action, especially when even victory is morally and existentially no better than defeat.
Sañjaya, speaking within the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, articulates a warning against undertaking war by emphasizing its inevitable devastation and ethical cost, framing it as an enterprise unworthy of a wise, informed agent.