Shloka 39
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
संजय उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथा वृत्तं महारणे | शुश्रूषस्व स्थिरो भूत्वा दुराचरितमात्मन:
sañjaya uvāca hanta te vartayiṣyāmi yathā vṛttaṃ mahāraṇe | śuśrūṣasva sthiro bhūtvā durācaritam ātmanaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Baiklah—akan kuceritakan kepadamu persis sebagaimana yang terjadi dalam perang besar itu. Dengarkan dengan saksama, teguhkan hatimu; sebab ini menyangkut perbuatan tercela dari pihakmu sendiri.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical accountability within war: the listener must be steady and willing to hear uncomfortable truth, especially when it concerns wrongdoing by one’s own side. Moral clarity requires composure and honest reception of facts.
Sañjaya prepares Dhṛtarāṣṭra for a detailed report of events in the great battle, urging attentive, composed listening because the account will describe serious misconduct attributable to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own party.