Shloka 7
Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement
स धैर्ययुक्त प्रसमीक्ष्य मां वै नत्वं विप्र: कोडसि सत्यं वदेति । तस्मै तदा55त्मानमहं यथाव- दाख्यातवान् सूत इत्येव शल्य
sa dhairyayuktaḥ prasmīkṣya māṃ vai natvaṃ vipraḥ ko ’si satyaṃ vadeti | tasmai tadātmānam ahaṃ yathāvad ākhyātavān sūta ityeva śalya ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ମୋତେ ଧୈର୍ୟଯୁକ୍ତ ଓ ସ୍ଥିର ଦେଖି ସେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ପଚାରିଲେ—“ତୁମେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ନୁହେଁ; ତେବେ କିଏ? ସତ୍ୟ କହ।” ତେବେ ମୁଁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଭାବେ ନିଜ ପରିଚୟ ଦେଇ କହିଲି—“ଶଲ୍ୟ! ମୁଁ ସୂତ।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) as a dharmic imperative: when directly questioned, one should state one’s identity without deception, even when social labels (vipra vs. sūta) carry consequences.
Śalya, noticing Sañjaya’s composed demeanor, doubts that he is a brāhmaṇa and demands the truth. Sañjaya then openly identifies himself as a sūta, addressing Śalya respectfully.