Shloka 41
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
एवं बहुविधा वाच: श्रूयन्ते सम परस्परम् । पाण्डवस्तवसंयुक्ता: पुत्राणां ते सुदारुणा:
evaṁ bahuvidhā vācaḥ śrūyante sama-parasparam | pāṇḍavas-tava-saṁyuktāḥ putrāṇāṁ te sudāruṇāḥ, mahārāja |
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、そこでは至るところで、人々が互いに交わすさまざまな言葉が聞こえておりました。すなわち、パーンダヴァたちを称える言葉と同時に、陛下の御子らを苛烈で恐るべき調子で非難する言葉が飛び交っていたのです。陣営の噂話は、開戦前夜における両陣営の振る舞いに対する道義的な判断が形を成しつつあることを示しておりました。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective speech becomes a moral mirror: society instinctively praises perceived righteousness (the Pāṇḍavas) and condemns perceived wrongdoing (the king’s sons). It suggests that adharma invites public censure, while dharmic conduct earns esteem—even amid the chaos of war.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in the surroundings of the armies, many mutual conversations are being heard. These remarks repeatedly include praise of the Pāṇḍavas and severe criticism of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, indicating the prevailing sentiment among those present.