Shloka 20
अध्याय २५६ — श्रद्धा, अहिंसा, स्पर्धा-त्यागः
Tūlādhāra–Jājali: Faith, Non-harm, and Renunciation of Rivalry
अविशेषेण चैव त्वं प्रजा: संहर कामिनि । मम त्वं हि नियोगेन श्रेय: परमवाप्स्यसि,कामिनि! तुम मेरे आदेशसे सामान्यतः सारी प्रजाका संहार करो। इससे तुम्हें परम कल्याणकी प्राप्ति होगी"
aviśeṣeṇa caiva tvaṃ prajāḥ saṃhara kāmini | mama tvaṃ hi niyogena śreyaḥ param avāpsyasi, kāmini ||
“ഹേ പ്രിയേ, വ്യത്യാസമില്ലാതെ എല്ലാ പ്രജകളെയും സംഹരിക്ക. എന്റെ നിയോഗപ്രകാരം അങ്ങനെ ചെയ്താൽ നീ പരമ ശ്രേയസ് പ്രാപിക്കും.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a morally weighty act (the destruction/withdrawal of beings) as being justified by niyoga—acting under an authoritative injunction—while promising śreyas (highest welfare). It highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between personal moral hesitation and obedience to a higher, purportedly dharmic command.
Nārada addresses a woman (kāmini) and instructs her to bring about a general destruction of the prajāḥ, assuring her that compliance with his commission will lead to supreme benefit. The line functions as a directive speech-act: command + promised outcome.