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 ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai kaum Kuru, aku katakan ini dengan jelas di hadapan kamu: jika putera-putera Dhritarashtra memasuki medan perang dan bertempur, mereka tidak akan terselamat. Nyawa kaum Kuru hanya dapat dipelihara jika mereka menjauh dari perang; apabila perang benar-benar bermula, tidak seorang pun akan tinggal di sini.”
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.