Shloka 27
तन्मां किमभितप्यन्तं वाकृशरैरेव कृन्तसि । अशक्त: सिन्धुराजस्य भूत्वा त्राणाय भारत,भारत! ऐसी दशामें तुम स्वयं सिंधुराजकी रक्षामें असमर्थ होकर मुझे अपने वाग्बाणोंसे क्यों छेद रहे हो? मै तो स्वयं ही संतप्त हो रहा हूँ
tan māṁ kim abhitapyantaṁ vāk-śaraiḥ eva kṛntasi | aśaktaḥ sindhu-rājasya bhūtvā trāṇāya bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: “Why do you pierce me with nothing but verbal arrows while I am already burning with grief? Having proved unable, O Bhārata, to protect the king of Sindhu, why do you now cut me down with harsh words?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint in speech: when someone is already distressed, further wounding them with harsh words is morally questionable. It also points to responsibility—failure in duty (protecting an ally/king) should be met with reflection rather than blame-shifting through verbal aggression.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reproaches Sañjaya regarding the inability to protect Jayadratha (the Sindhu king). Sañjaya responds that he is already pained by events and asks why Dhṛtarāṣṭra is attacking him with ‘verbal arrows’ despite Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own side being unable to provide protection.