Shloka 107
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
वधे धृतो वेगवतः प्रमुडचन् नाहं प्रजा: किंचिदिहावशिष्ये | शान्तिं लप्स्ये परमो होष भाव: स्थिरो मम ब्रूहि गावल्गणे तान्
vadhe dhṛto vegavataḥ pramudacan nāhaṃ prajāḥ kiṃcid ihāvaśiṣye | śāntiṃ lapsye paramo hoṣa-bhāvaḥ sthiro mama brūhi gāvalgaṇe tān |
सञ्जय उवाच—वधे धृतो वेगवतः प्रमुद्यन् नाहं प्रजाः किञ्चिदिहावशिष्ये। शान्तिं लप्स्ये परमो ह्येष भावः स्थिरो मम; ब्रूहि गावल्गणे तान्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes a tragic ethical inversion common in war rhetoric: the speaker equates ‘peace’ with total annihilation of opponents and even the wider populace. It highlights how anger and martial pride can masquerade as a quest for peace, thereby challenging dharmic discernment about means and ends.
Sañjaya reports a message of uncompromising intent: the speaker declares a firm resolve to spare no one and instructs Sañjaya (addressed as Gāvalgaṇa) to convey this determination to the other side. It functions as a threat and a declaration of policy in the escalating pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva.