Shloka 286

कि नु माद्रीसुतौ हत्वा राजानं च युधिष्िरम्‌ । “तुम चलकर जीवनके भारी संशयमें पड़े हुए राजा दुर्योधनको बचाओ। आज माद्रीकुमार नकुल-सहदेव तथा राजा युधिष्ठिरका वध करके क्या होगा?”

ki nu mādrīsutau hatvā rājānaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiram |

Sanjaya berkata: “Apakah faedahnya membunuh dua putera Madri dan Raja Yudhiṣṭhira? Pergilah selamatkan Raja Duryodhana, yang sedang melangkah ke dalam keraguan besar tentang nyawanya sendiri.”

किम्what
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
नुindeed/then (interrogative particle)
नु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनु
माद्री-सुतौthe two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva)
माद्री-सुतौ:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमाद्रीसुत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
हत्वाhaving slain
हत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)
राजानम्the king
राजानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhishthira
युधिष्ठिरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयुधिष्ठिर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
M
Madri
N
Nakula
S
Sahadeva
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
D
Duryodhana

Educational Q&A

The verse frames a moral-pragmatic warning: victory is not merely about killing prominent opponents; one must also protect one’s own leader and act with clear purpose. It questions the ethical and strategic value of further bloodshed when the immediate duty is to safeguard Duryodhana, whose survival is pivotal.

Sanjaya reports a counsel that urges immediate action to rescue Duryodhana, who is in peril and mentally shaken. The speaker dismisses the utility of killing Nakula, Sahadeva, and even Yudhiṣṭhira at that moment, emphasizing that saving Duryodhana is the urgent priority.