Shloka 22

धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama

Devanagari script

क्षयोदयो<यं सुमहान्‌ कुरूणां प्रत्युपस्थित: । अस्य चेत्‌ कलहस्यान्त: शमादन्यो न विद्यते

Transliteration

kṣayodayo ’yaṃ sumahān kurūṇāṃ pratyupasthitaḥ | asya cet kalahasyāntaḥ śamād anyo na vidyate ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—କୁରୁମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବିନାଶ ଓ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଉଲ୍ଟାପାଲ୍ଟାର ଏକ ମହା ମୋଡ଼ ଆସିପହଞ୍ଚିଛି। ଯଦି ଏହି କଲହର ଶେଷ ଶାନ୍ତି-ସନ୍ଧି ବ୍ୟତୀତ ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଉପାୟରେ ସମ୍ଭବ ନୁହେଁ, ତେବେ ସନ୍ଧି ହିଁ ମୋତେ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଲାଗେ। କୁନ୍ତୀପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଉକ୍ତେଜିତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; ମୁଁ ସଦା ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କୁ କୌରବମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ମନେ କରିଛି।

Word by Word

• क्षय: destruction
• क्षय: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उदयः: rise/prosperity
• उदयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमहान्: very great
• सुमहान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरूणाम्: of the Kurus
• कुरूणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रति: towards/against; in front of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• उपस्थितः: present; arrived
• उपस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्य: of this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• चेत्: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत्

• कलहस्य: of the quarrel
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तः: end
• अन्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शमात्: from pacification/peace
• शमात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Kuru(s)
• Kuntīputra(s) (sons of Kuntī)
• Pāṇḍava(s)
• Kaurava(s)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When a conflict threatens collective ruin, dharma favors śama—restraint, pacification, and settlement—over escalation into war, especially when war is both morally improper and strategically disastrous.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator frames the Kuru situation as a decisive crisis: destruction is imminent unless the quarrel is ended through peace-making. The statement also underscores the perceived superiority of the Pāṇḍavas, warning against initiating war with them.