अध्याय १ — न्यग्रोधवनोपवेशनम् तथा द्रौणिनिश्चयः
Night at the Banyan and Drauṇi’s Resolve
भवतोस्तु यदि प्रज्ञा न मोहादपनीयते । व्यापन्नेडस्मिन् महत्यर्थ यन्नः श्रेयस्तदुच्यताम्,“यदि आप दोनोंकी बुद्धि मोहसे नष्ट न हो गयी हो तो इस महान् संकटके समय अपने बिगड़े हुए कार्यको बनानेके उद्देश्यसे हमारे लिये क्या करना श्रेष्ठ होगा? यह बताइये”
bhavatoḥ tu yadi prajñā na mohād apanīyate | vyāpanne 'smin mahaty arthe yan naḥ śreyas tad ucyatām ||
三阇耶说道:“若二位的明断尚未为迷妄所夺,那么在这场大危机之中——当我方大业已然败坏——请告知我们:为使这破败之事得以挽回,我们当行何策,何者为最善?”
संजय उवाच
In a moment of collapse and uncertainty, one should not act from moha (delusion) but seek śreyas—the truly beneficial course—through clear prajñā (discernment) and sober counsel.
Sanjaya addresses two listeners (spoken to in the dual), urging them to think clearly despite the shock of events. He asks them to state what course of action would be best now that their larger enterprise has gone badly in a grave crisis.