Shloka 3
Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
किमिदं साहसं राजंस्त्वया व्याहृतमीदृशम् । एकमेव निहत्याजौ भव राजा कुरुष्विति,“राजन! आपने क्यों ऐसी दुःसाहस पूर्ण बात कह डाली कि “तुम हममेंसे एकको ही मारकर कौरवोंका राजा हो जाओ'
sañjaya uvāca | kim idaṃ sāhasaṃ rājan tvayā vyāhṛtam īdṛśam | ekam eva nihatya ājau bhava rājā kuruṣv iti |
Sañjaya said: “O King, what is this rash and reckless utterance you have made? ‘Slay just one of us in battle and become king of the Kurus’—why would you speak such a daring, morally perilous proposal?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against sāhasa—reckless, ethically hazardous speech—especially in matters of war and kingship. It implies that ambition framed as ‘kill just one and rule’ trivializes violence and destabilizes dharma-guided counsel.
In the Sañjaya–Dhṛtarāṣṭra narration frame, Sañjaya questions the king about a bold proposal that someone could become ruler of the Kurus by killing only one opponent in battle, highlighting the audacity and moral risk of such a statement.