Shloka 6
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
अपीयं वाहिनी कृत्स्ना मुच्येत महतो भयात् | अप्ययं ब्राह्मण: सर्वान् न नो हन्यात् समागतान्
apīyaṃ vāhinī kṛtsnā mucyeta mahato bhayāt | apy ayaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ sarvān na no hanyāt samāgatān |
Sañjaya berkata: “Mungkinkah seluruh bala tentera ini terlepas daripada ketakutan besar ini? Semoga tidak terjadi bahawa brahmin ini—laksana makhluk ilahi yang menggerunkan—membunuh kita semua yang berhimpun di sini.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological weight of dharma in war: even a vast army can be shaken by the possibility of adharma provoking a spiritually powerful figure. It underscores the Mahabharata theme that moral-spiritual force (tapas/tejas) can outweigh sheer military strength, and that wrongdoing invites catastrophic consequences.
Sanjaya voices apprehension that the entire assembled force may not escape a looming danger. He fears that a brahmin-like divine ascetic present in the situation could, if provoked or acting in wrath, destroy all those gathered—showing panic and uncertainty amid the unfolding conflict.