Shloka 17
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
वर्जयन ब्राह्मा्ं युद्धे शनैर्याहि यतो<र्जुन: । अर्जुनं भीमसेनं वा समरे प्राप्प सारथे
varjayan brāhmān yuddhe śanair yāhi yato 'rjunaḥ | arjunaṃ bhīmasenaṃ vā samare prāpya sārathē ||
Sañjaya said: “Avoiding the Brāhmaṇas in battle, advance gradually toward where Arjuna is. And when you come upon Arjuna—or Bhīmasena—in the fight, O charioteer, engage them.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, conduct is to be governed by restraint: one should avoid harming Brāhmaṇas and focus one’s force on the principal combatants. The verse reflects a dharmic boundary within violence—discrimination between legitimate targets and those to be spared.
Sañjaya reports battlefield instructions directing the charioteer to move cautiously toward Arjuna’s position, while explicitly avoiding Brāhmaṇas. The aim is to seek out and engage either Arjuna or Bhīmasena when encountered in the fighting.