Shloka 12
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Sañjaya’s Report on the Pandavas’ Coalition
Kāmyaka Context
अपि सर्वेश्वरत्वं हि ते वाउछन्त्यपराजिता: । वधे नूनं भवेच्छान्तिरेतेषां फाल्गुनस्थ वा,और वे पराजित न होकर सर्वेश्वर सम्राट् बननेकी इच्छा रखते हैं। इन कर्ण आदि योद्धाओंका वध हो जाय अथवा अर्जुन ही मारे जायूँ तो इस विवादकी शान्ति हो सकती है
api sarveśvaratvaṃ hi te vāñchanti aparājitāḥ | vadhe nūnaṃ bhavec chāntir eteṣāṃ phālgunastha vā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Indeed, those unconquered men desire even universal sovereignty. Peace in this dispute will arise only through death—either when these warriors (such as Karṇa and the rest) are slain, or when Phālguna (Arjuna) himself is killed.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked ambition for absolute sovereignty makes reconciliation unlikely; when parties refuse restraint, peace is imagined only through decisive, often violent, resolution—highlighting the ethical tragedy of power-driven conflict.
Vaiśampāyana describes the opponents’ mindset: they are not content with partial victory but seek supreme rule. Therefore, he states that the quarrel will end only if the leading warriors on one side are killed, or if Arjuna (Phālguna) is killed.