Mahabharata 7.184.25 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 184, Shloka 25
तस्मात् पर्णानि शाखाश्व स्कन्ध॑ चोत्सृज्य सूतज । कृष्णं हि विद्धि पाण्डूनां मूलं सर्वत्र सर्वदा
tasmāt parṇāni śākhāś ca skandhaṁ cotsṛjya sūtaja | kṛṣṇaṁ hi viddhi pāṇḍūnāṁ mūlaṁ sarvatra sarvadā ||
เพราะฉะนั้น โอรสแห่งสารถีเอ๋ย จงละใบ กิ่งก้าน และแม้ลำต้นเสีย แล้วฟันลงที่รากโดยตรง. จงรู้ไว้ว่า พระกฤษณะเท่านั้น เป็นรากของเหล่าปาณฑพ ทุกแห่งหนและทุกกาล.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches strategic discernment: do not waste effort on peripheral targets (leaves, branches, trunk) when the true sustaining cause is elsewhere. Ethically and narratively, it highlights Kṛṣṇa as the decisive support of the Pāṇḍavas—implying that their strength is not merely military but rooted in guidance, dharma-aligned counsel, and divine protection.
In the Drona Parva war context, Sañjaya reports counsel directed to Karṇa (addressed as sūtaja): instead of attacking the Pāṇḍava warriors as separate ‘parts,’ he should recognize Kṛṣṇa as their central pillar and aim at that ‘root,’ since Kṛṣṇa’s presence and strategy continually sustain their success.
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