Shloka 24
धृतराष्ट उवाच आखेयाता जीवमाना ये5परे सैन्या यथायथम् | इतीदमवगच्छामि व्यक्तमर्थाभिपत्तित:,धृतराष्ट्रने कहा--संजय! अपने पक्षके जो जीवित योद्धा हैं एवं उनसे भिन्न जो मारे जा चुके हैं, उनका तुमने यथार्थरूपसे वर्णन कर दिया। इससे जो परिणाम होनेवाला है, उसे अर्थापत्ति प्रमाणके द्वारा मैं स्पष्टरूपसे समझ रहा हूँ (मेरे पक्षकी हार सुनिश्चित है)
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca: ākhyātā jīvamānā ye 'pare sainyā yathā-yatham | itīdam avagacchāmi vyaktam arthābhipattitaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Sañjaya, you have accurately reported, as it truly stands, which warriors of our host are still alive and which others have been slain. From this, by reasoning from the inevitable implications of what you have said, I clearly understand what the outcome will be—defeat for my side is certain.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how clear reporting of facts leads to unavoidable moral and practical conclusions: Dhṛtarāṣṭra infers the impending defeat of his side from the pattern of casualties, illustrating arthāpatti (inference from necessary implication) and the tragic clarity that comes when consequences of adharma become evident.
After hearing Sañjaya’s account of who among the Kaurava forces remains alive and who has fallen, Dhṛtarāṣṭra acknowledges the accuracy of the report and concludes—by implication from those facts—that his side’s loss is now inevitable.