Shloka 12
धृतराष्ट्रस्य संजयप्रश्नः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry to Saṃjaya on Strategic Comparisons
यथा श्रुतं ते वदतो महात्मनो मधुप्रवीरस्य वच: समाहितम् | तथैव वाच्यं भवता हि मद्वच: समागतेषु क्षितिपेषु सर्वश:
yathā śrutaṃ te vadato mahātmano madhupravīrasya vacaḥ samāhitam | tathaiva vācyaṃ bhavatā hi madvacaḥ samāgateṣu kṣitipeṣu sarvaśaḥ |
Sañjaya disse: “Assim como ouviste—essas palavras proferidas com mente recolhida pelo magnânimo herói da linhagem de Madhu—assim mesmo deves repeti-las, sem alteração. E então, na plena assembleia dos reis reunidos, deves também proclamar minha mensagem por toda parte.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes faithful, unbiased transmission of speech—reporting exactly what was heard, especially in matters of statecraft where truthfulness and precision shape ethical and political outcomes.
Sañjaya frames an instruction to a messenger: Kṛṣṇa’s carefully spoken words must be repeated verbatim, and an additional message from the speaker is to be announced before the gathered kings, reflecting the tense diplomatic setting before war.