Shloka 96
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
प्रत्यक्ष व: कुरवो यद् ब्रवीमि युध्यमाना धार्तराष्ट्रा न सन्ति । अन्यत्र युद्धात् कुरवो यदि स्यु- न युद्धे वै शेष इहास्ति कश्चित्
pratyakṣaṃ vaḥ kuravo yad bravīmi yudhyamānā dhārtarāṣṭrā na santi | anyatra yuddhāt kuravo yadi syur na yuddhe vai śeṣa ihāsti kaścit ||
サンジャヤは言った。「クル族よ、面と向かって明言する。持国王の子らが戦場に出て戦いに身を投じるなら、生きては戻れぬ。クルの命が保たれるのは、ただ戦を避けるときのみだ。ひとたび戦が真に始まれば、ここに残る者は一人もいない。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and practical warning that choosing war—especially when driven by obstinacy and unrighteous policy—brings total ruin. It frames avoidance of unjust conflict as the only path to preservation, implying that adharma-led aggression culminates in self-destruction.
Sañjaya delivers a blunt forecast to the Kuru/Kaurava side: if Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons fight, they will be annihilated; only by refraining from battle can any of them survive. The statement functions as a final, urgent admonition in the tense lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war.