अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
सह गान्धारराजेन सभायां यदभाषत
saha gāndhārarājena sabhāyāṃ yad abhāṣata
Isinalaysay niya ang mga salitang binitiwan sa kapulungan ng kaharian kasama ang hari ng Gandhāra—ipinapakita kung paanong ang payo at mga pananalita sa korte ay nakahuhubog sa takbo ng digmaan, at kung paanong ang mga tagapayo at nagpapasya ay may pasan na pananagutang moral.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Speech in the assembly is not neutral: words of counsel and persuasion carry ethical weight, because they influence decisions that can lead to harm or justice, especially in wartime.
Vaiśampāyana indicates that he is reporting what was said in the royal court, in the presence of (and along with) the king of Gandhāra—framing the ensuing account as courtly deliberation and dialogue.