Shloka 41
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
एवं बहुविधा वाच: श्रूयन्ते सम परस्परम् । पाण्डवस्तवसंयुक्ता: पुत्राणां ते सुदारुणा:,महाराज! इस प्रकार वहाँ परस्पर कही हुई पाण्डवोंकी प्रशंसा तथा आपके पुत्रोंकी अत्यन्त भयंकर निन््दासे युक्त नाना प्रकारकी बातें सुनायी पड़ती थीं
evaṁ bahuvidhā vācaḥ śrūyante sama-parasparam | pāṇḍavas-tava-saṁyuktāḥ putrāṇāṁ te sudāruṇāḥ, mahārāja |
Wahai Maharaja! Di segala penjuru terdengar beraneka ragam ucapan yang saling dipertukarkan—kata-kata yang memuji para Pāṇḍava, dan pada saat yang sama melontarkan celaan yang amat keras serta mengerikan terhadap putra-putramu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective speech becomes a moral mirror: society instinctively praises perceived righteousness (the Pāṇḍavas) and condemns perceived wrongdoing (the king’s sons). It suggests that adharma invites public censure, while dharmic conduct earns esteem—even amid the chaos of war.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in the surroundings of the armies, many mutual conversations are being heard. These remarks repeatedly include praise of the Pāṇḍavas and severe criticism of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, indicating the prevailing sentiment among those present.