Shloka 14
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
तैरयुद्धं साधु मनन््ये कुरवस्तन्निबोधत । युद्धे विनाश: कृत्स्नस्यथ कुलस्य भविता ध्रुवम्,कौरवो! मैं पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध न होना ही अच्छा मानता हूँ। तुमलोग इसे अच्छी तरह समझ लो। यदि युद्ध हुआ तो समस्त कुरुकुलका विनाश अवश्यम्भावी है। मेरी बुद्धिका यही सर्वोत्तम निश्चय है। इसीसे मेरे मनको शान्ति मिलती है। यदि तुम्हें भी युद्ध न होना ही अभीष्ट हो तो हम शान्तिके लिये प्रयत्न करें
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | tair yuddhaṃ sādhu manye kuravas tan nibodhata | yuddhe vināśaḥ kṛtsnasyātha kulasya bhavitā dhruvam ||
ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—“କୁରୁମାନେ ତାଙ୍କ ସହ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ନ କରନ୍ତୁ—ଏହାକୁ ମୁଁ ଶ୍ରେୟ ମନେ କରେ; ତୁମେ ଏହା ଭଲଭାବେ ବୁଝ। ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ସମଗ୍ର କୁଳର ବିନାଶ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ।”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dhṛtarāṣṭra frames war as ethically and pragmatically disastrous: even victory would be hollow if it annihilates the entire lineage. The verse emphasizes foresight, restraint, and the duty to pursue peace when the cost of conflict is collective ruin.
In Udyoga Parva, as negotiations and preparations intensify, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses the Kurus, urging them to understand that war with the Pāṇḍavas will inevitably bring total destruction to the family, and he proposes striving for peace instead.