Shloka 96
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
प्रत्यक्ष व: कुरवो यद् ब्रवीमि युध्यमाना धार्तराष्ट्रा न सन्ति । अन्यत्र युद्धात् कुरवो यदि स्यु- न युद्धे वै शेष इहास्ति कश्चित्
pratyakṣaṃ vaḥ kuravo yad bravīmi yudhyamānā dhārtarāṣṭrā na santi | anyatra yuddhāt kuravo yadi syur na yuddhe vai śeṣa ihāsti kaścit ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: “Mga Kuru, sinasabi ko ito nang hayagan sa inyong harapan: kapag pumasok sa larangan ng digmaan ang mga anak ni Dhritarashtra at nakipaglaban, hindi sila makaliligtas. Maliligtas lamang ang buhay ng mga Kuru kung lalayo sila sa digmaan; kapag tunay nang sumiklab ang labanan, wala ni isa ang matitira rito.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and practical warning that choosing war—especially when driven by obstinacy and unrighteous policy—brings total ruin. It frames avoidance of unjust conflict as the only path to preservation, implying that adharma-led aggression culminates in self-destruction.
Sañjaya delivers a blunt forecast to the Kuru/Kaurava side: if Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons fight, they will be annihilated; only by refraining from battle can any of them survive. The statement functions as a final, urgent admonition in the tense lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war.