Shloka 15

अध्याय २६ — युद्ध-निन्दा, काम-दोष, तथा धार्तराष्ट्र-नीति-विश्लेषण

War-aversion, Desire as a Policy Fault, and Analysis of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Governance

Devanagari script

अन्तं गत्वा कर्मणां मा प्रजह्मा: सत्यं दमं चार्जवमानृशंस्यम्‌ । अश्वमेधं राजसूयं तथेज्या: पापस्यान्तं कर्मणो मा पुनर्गा:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

antaṃ gatvā karmaṇāṃ mā prajahmāḥ satyaṃ damaṃ cārjavam ānṛśaṃsyam |

aśvamedhaṃ rājasūyaṃ tathejyaḥ pāpasyāntaṃ karmaṇo mā punargāḥ ||

Translation

桑阇耶说道：“既已使你的诸行达到应有的圆满，就不要舍弃真实、自制、正直与慈悲。不要放弃马祭（Aśvamedha）、王祭（Rājasūya）以及其他祭祀仪轨；然而，切莫再度逼近罪业的尽头——如同战争一般。”

Word by Word

• अन्तम्: end, limit
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone/reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• कर्मणाम्: of actions/deeds
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• मा: do not (prohibitive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• प्रजहीः: abandon, give up
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हा
• Form: Lot (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्यम्: truthfulness, truth
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दमम्: self-control
• दमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आर्जवम्: straightforwardness, honesty
• आर्जवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनृशंस्यम्: non-cruelty, compassion
• अनृशंस्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृशंस्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अश्वमेधम्: Aśvamedha sacrifice
• अश्वमेधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजसूयम्: Rājasūya sacrifice
• राजसूयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• इज्याः: sacrifices, acts of worship
• इज्याः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• पापस्य: of sin/evil
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तम्: end, limit
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कर्मणः: of the act/deed
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• गाः: go, proceed
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Lot (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvamedha
• Rājasūya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sustain foundational virtues—truth, self-restraint, straightforwardness, and compassion—while continuing legitimate Vedic duties like royal sacrifices; but avoid returning to sinful, destructive action, exemplified by war.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Sañjaya conveys counsel that frames righteous conduct for rulers: uphold moral virtues and sanctioned rites, yet refrain from sliding back into violent, blameworthy deeds as tensions move toward conflict.