Shloka 9
Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma
Engagement and Countermeasures
शोचन् नन्दयते शत्रून् कर्शयत्यपि बान्धवान् । क्षीयते च नरस्तस्मान्न त्वं शोचितुमहसि,'शोक करनेवाला पुरुष अपने शत्रुओंको आनन्दित करता और बन्धु-बान्धवोंको दुःखसे दुर्बल बनाता है। इसके सिवा वह स्वयं भी शोकके कारण क्षीण होता जाता है। अतः तुम्हें शोक नहीं करना चाहिये'
śocan nandayate śatrūn karśayaty api bāndhavān | kṣīyate ca naras tasmān na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi ||
Sañjaya said: “A man who gives himself over to grief gladdens his enemies and, moreover, wears down his own kinsmen with sorrow. Besides, he himself is consumed by that grief. Therefore, you ought not to grieve.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief is portrayed as counterproductive: it strengthens opponents, burdens one’s own supporters, and consumes the griever. Hence one should practice restraint and steadiness rather than lamentation.
In the midst of the war reports, Sañjaya offers counsel meant to steady the listener’s mind, arguing that lamentation only benefits enemies and harms one’s own side, so grief should be set aside.