Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
किमिदं साहसं राजंस्त्वया व्याहृतमीदृशम् । एकमेव निहत्याजौ भव राजा कुरुष्विति,“राजन! आपने क्यों ऐसी दुःसाहस पूर्ण बात कह डाली कि “तुम हममेंसे एकको ही मारकर कौरवोंका राजा हो जाओ'
sañjaya uvāca | kim idaṃ sāhasaṃ rājan tvayā vyāhṛtam īdṛśam | ekam eva nihatya ājau bhava rājā kuruṣv iti |
ข้าแต่พระราชา ไฉนพระองค์จึงตรัสถ้อยคำอันหุนหันเช่นนี้—“ฆ่าเราเพียงคนเดียวในสนามรบ แล้วจงเป็นราชาแห่งวงศ์กุรุ” —เหตุใดจึงเสนอสิ่งที่เสี่ยงต่อธรรมเช่นนั้น?
संजय उवाच
The verse cautions against sāhasa—reckless, ethically hazardous speech—especially in matters of war and kingship. It implies that ambition framed as ‘kill just one and rule’ trivializes violence and destabilizes dharma-guided counsel.
In the Sañjaya–Dhṛtarāṣṭra narration frame, Sañjaya questions the king about a bold proposal that someone could become ruler of the Kurus by killing only one opponent in battle, highlighting the audacity and moral risk of such a statement.