Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
संशृण्वतस्तस्य दुर्भाषिणो वै दुरात्मन: सूतपुत्रस्य सूत । यो योद्धुमाशंसति मां सदैव मन्दप्रज्ञ: कालपक्वो5तिमूढ:
saṃśṛṇvatastasya durbhāṣiṇo vai durātmanaḥ sūtaputrasya sūta | yo yoddhum āśaṃsati māṃ sadaiva mandaprajñaḥ kālapakvo'timūḍhaḥ ||
“सूत, तस्य दुर्भाषिणो दुरात्मनः सूतपुत्रस्य कर्णस्य शृण्वतः—यो मां योद्धुमाशंसते सदैव मन्दप्रज्ञः कालपक्वोऽतिमूढः—ये चान्ये राजानः पाण्डवैः सह युद्धाय समानीताः, तेषां च शृण्वतां; कुरूणां मध्ये मयोक्तं समग्रं वचनं सहामात्यं धार्तराष्ट्रं नृपं दुर्योधनं श्रावयेथाः, यथा सुस्पष्टं शृणुयात्।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech and intention in conflict: abusive talk and arrogant boasting are portrayed as signs of delusion and moral decline, while the reference to kāla (Time/death) frames hubris as self-destructive and ultimately answerable to destiny.
Sañjaya reports a message meant for the Kaurava court: Karṇa is characterized as harsh-tongued and boastful about fighting, and the speaker instructs that these words be conveyed to Duryodhana (with ministers and allied kings present) as the war with the Pāṇḍavas approaches.