Shloka 7
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ७७: पुरुषकार–दैवसंयोगः तथा दुष्टमन्त्रपरामर्शस्य राजनैतिक-परिणामः
Human Effort, Contingency, and the Political Effects of Corrupt Counsel
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च भवान् न: प्रथम: सुह्ृत् सुराणामसुराणां च यथा वीर प्रजापति:
pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca bhavān naḥ prathamaḥ suhṛt surāṇām asurāṇāṃ ca yathā vīra prajāpatiḥ
اے بہادرِ برتر! جس طرح پرجاپتی برہما دیوتاؤں اور اسوروں—دونوں کے سب سے بڑے خیرخواہ ہیں، اسی طرح آپ پاندوؤں اور کورَوؤں—دونوں کے بھی اولین دوست اور خیراندیش ہیں۔
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises impartial benevolence: a true well-wisher seeks the good of both sides in a family conflict, like Prajāpati who is regarded as benefactor of both devas and asuras. Ethical counsel should rise above factional loyalty and aim at the welfare of all.
In Udyoga Parva, amid efforts and tensions leading toward war, Arjuna addresses an honored figure as the foremost friend of both Pāṇḍavas and Kurus, invoking the analogy of Prajāpati’s universal guardianship to emphasize the addressee’s role as a neutral, overarching well-wisher.