Shloka 1
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
नआऔका-<> 7 जल चतुथों5 ध्याय: कृपाचार्यका दुर्योधनको संधिके लिये समझाना संजय उवाच पतितान् रथनीडांश्व रथांश्वापि महात्मनाम् रणे च निहतान् नागान् दृष्टवा पत्तींश्ष मारिष
sañjaya uvāca | patitān rathanīḍāṁś ca rathāṁś cāpi mahātmanām | raṇe ca nihatān nāgān dṛṣṭvā pattīṁś ca māriṣa ||
サञ्जयは言った。「尊き王よ、その時、戦場には大いなる魂をもつ勇士たちの戦車と車台が倒れ砕けて散らばり、象は騎手もろとも、また歩兵も戦いのうちに斃れていた。そこは恐るべき光景で、まるで火葬場、あたかもルドラの遊戯の場のようであった。この荒廃を目にして、そなたの子ドゥルヨーダナの心は悲嘆に沈み、戦から背を向けた。さらに、クンティーの子アルジュナの武威により諸軍が恐怖に震え、深く動揺して不安に沈むとき、年長にして気品高く、策謀の言に長けたクリパは憐れみに心を動かされた。彼は意気消沈するドゥルヨーダナのもとへ近づき、語りかけ始めた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical moment in war: amid mass death and despair, a wise elder (Kṛpa) responds not with rage but with compassion and counsel. It highlights the dharmic role of mature guidance—steadying a leader whose mind is overwhelmed by grief and fear.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield strewn with broken chariots, dead elephants, and fallen infantry. Duryodhana becomes despondent and turns away from fighting as the troops panic at Arjuna’s prowess. Seeing this, Kṛpācārya approaches Duryodhana to advise and console him.