Shloka 6
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
अपीयं वाहिनी कृत्स्ना मुच्येत महतो भयात् | अप्ययं ब्राह्मण: सर्वान् न नो हन्यात् समागतान्
apīyaṃ vāhinī kṛtsnā mucyeta mahato bhayāt | apy ayaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ sarvān na no hanyāt samāgatān |
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Maililigtas kaya ang buong hukbong ito mula sa napakalaking pangamba? Nawa’y huwag mangyari na ang brahmin na ito—nakapanghihilakbot na tila isang banal na nilalang—ay pumatay sa ating lahat na nagkatipon dito.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological weight of dharma in war: even a vast army can be shaken by the possibility of adharma provoking a spiritually powerful figure. It underscores the Mahabharata theme that moral-spiritual force (tapas/tejas) can outweigh sheer military strength, and that wrongdoing invites catastrophic consequences.
Sanjaya voices apprehension that the entire assembled force may not escape a looming danger. He fears that a brahmin-like divine ascetic present in the situation could, if provoked or acting in wrath, destroy all those gathered—showing panic and uncertainty amid the unfolding conflict.