Shloka 58
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा द्रष्टा पततः स्यन्दने भ्यो महागजेभ्यो5श्वगतान् सुयोधनान् । शरैहतान् पातितांश्वैव रड्े तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्
sañjaya uvāca | yadā draṣṭā patataḥ syandane bhyo mahāgajebhyo ’śvagatān suyodhanān | śaraiḥ hatān pātitāṃś caiva raṇe tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro ’nutapsyat ||
サンジャヤは言った。「ドゥルヨーダナが、自軍の戦士たち――戦車より戦う者、巨象より戦う者、馬上の者――が矢に討たれて戦場に倒れ伏すのを見たとき、ドリタラーシュトラの子は、戦を選んだことへの悔恨に捕らえられる。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of choosing adharma: when the reality of mass death becomes undeniable, the instigator of conflict is forced into remorse. It implies that power and pride cannot shield one from the moral consequences of violence.
Sañjaya foretells that Duryodhana will witness his own forces—fighters from chariots, elephants, and horses—being struck down by arrows and collapsing on the battlefield, and that this sight will make him regret having pursued war.