Shloka 23
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें संकुलयुद्धविषयक तेईसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,मूढांस्तु सर्वथा मन्ये धार्तराष्ट्रानू सुबालिशान् । पतिते शान्तनो: पुत्रे येडकार्षु: संयुगं पुन: “मैं धृतराष्ट्रके सभी पुत्रोंको सर्वथा मूर्ख और नादान समझता हूँ, जिन्होंने शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मजीके धराशायी होनेपर भी पुनः युद्ध जारी रखा
mūḍhāṁs tu sarvathā manye dhārtarāṣṭrān subāliśān | patite śāntanoḥ putre ye ’kārṣuḥ saṁyugaṁ punaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Aku menilai putra-putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra benar-benar tersesat dan amat dungu; sebab setelah putra Śāntanu, Bhīṣma, roboh, mereka tetap memilih memulai kembali pertempuran.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns obstinate continuation of violence even after a decisive moral and strategic turning point—the fall of Bhīṣma. It highlights how delusion (mūḍhatā) and childish judgment (subāliśatā) can override prudence, reverence for elders, and dharmic restraint.
Sanjaya reports his assessment to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: the Kauravas persisted in fighting even after Bhīṣma—Śāntanu’s son and the great pillar of their cause—had fallen. This frames the Kaurava resolve as misguided and ethically blameworthy.