जानाति हि मतं तेषाम् अतस् त्रासयतीव नः ॥
अर्जुनेनास्य संप्रीतिम् अधिकाम् उपलक्षये ॥
तथा हि दृष्ट्वा बीभत्सुम् उपायान्तं प्रशंसति ॥
यथा सेना न भज्येत तथा नीतिर् विधीयताम् ॥
अदेशिका महारण्ये ग्रीष्मे शत्रुवशं गता ॥
यथा न विभ्रमेत् सेना तथा नीतिर् विधीयताम् ॥
अश्वानां हेषितं श्रुत्वा का प्रशंसा भवेत् परे ॥
स्थाने वापि व्रजन्तो वा सदा हेषन्ति वाजिनः ॥
सदा च वायवो वान्ति नित्यं वर्षति वासवः ॥
स्तनयित्नोश् च निर्घोषः श्रूयते बहुशस् तथा ॥
किम् अत्र कार्यं पार्थस्य कथं वा स प्रशस्यते ॥
अन्यत्र कामाद् द्वेषाद् वा रोषाद् वास्मासु केवलात् ॥
आचार्या वै कारुणिकाः प्राज्ञाश् चापायदर्शिनः ॥
नैते महाभये प्राप्ते संप्रष्टव्याः कथं चन ॥
प्रासादेषु विचित्रेषु गोष्ठीष्व् आवसथेषु च ॥
कथा विचित्राः कुर्वाणाः पण्डितास् तत्र शोभनाः ॥
बहून्य् आश्चर्यरूपाणि कुर्वन्तो जनसंसदि ॥
इष्वस्त्रे चारुसंधाने पण्डितास् तत्र शोभनाः ॥
परेषां विवरज्ञाने मनुष्याचरितेषु च ॥
अन्नसंस्कारदोषेषु पण्डितास् तत्र शोभनाः ॥
पण्डितान् पृष्ठतः कृत्वा परेषां गुणवादिनः ॥
विधीयतां तथा नीतिर् यथा वध्येत वै परः ॥
गावश् चैव प्रतिष्ठन्तां सेनां व्यूहन्तु माचिरम् ॥
आरक्षाश् च विधीयन्तां यत्र योत्स्यामहे परान् ॥
jānāti hi mataṃ teṣām atas trāsayatīva naḥ ||
arjunenāsya saṃprītim adhikām upalakṣaye ||
tathā hi dṛṣṭvā bībhatsum upāyāntaṃ praśaṃsati ||
yathā senā na bhajyeta tathā nītir vidhīyatām ||
adeśikā mahāraṇye grīṣme śatruvaśaṃ gatā ||
yathā na vibhramet senā tathā nītir vidhīyatām ||
aśvānāṃ heṣitaṃ śrutvā kā praśaṃsā bhavet pare ||
sthāne vāpi vrajanto vā sadā heṣanti vājinaḥ ||
sadā ca vāyavo vānti nityaṃ varṣati vāsavaḥ ||
stanayitnoś ca nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate bahuśas tathā ||
kim atra kāryaṃ pārthasya kathaṃ vā sa praśasyate ||
anyatra kāmād dveṣād vā roṣād vāsmāsu kevalāt ||
ācāryā vai kāruṇikāḥ prājñāś cāpāyadarśinaḥ ||
naite mahābhaye prāpte saṃpraṣṭavyāḥ kathaṃ cana ||
prāsādeṣu vicitreṣu goṣṭhīṣv āvasatheṣu ca ||
kathā vicitrāḥ kurvāṇāḥ paṇḍitās tatra śobhanāḥ ||
bahūny āścaryarūpāṇi kurvanto janasaṃsadi ||
iṣvastre cārusaṃdhāne paṇḍitās tatra śobhanāḥ ||
pareṣāṃ vivarajñāne manuṣyācariteṣu ca ||
annasaṃskāradoṣeṣu paṇḍitās tatra śobhanāḥ ||
paṇḍitān pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā pareṣāṃ guṇavādinaḥ ||
vidhīyatāṃ tathā nītir yathā vadhyeta vai paraḥ ||
gāvaś caiva pratiṣṭhantāṃ senāṃ vyūhantu māciram ||
ārakṣāś ca vidhīyantāṃ yatra yotsyāmahe parān ||
"He knows their intention, and so he all but tries to frighten us; I notice in him a particular fondness for Arjuna. Indeed, having seen Bibhatsu approaching, he praises him. Let such policy be arranged that our army not be broken. As an army without a guide, in a great forest in summer, falls into the enemy's power, so let our army not go astray; let policy be arranged accordingly. What praise is there for an enemy merely because the neighing of horses is heard? Horses always neigh, whether standing still or moving. The winds always blow, Vasava constantly sends down rain, and the rumble of thunder, too, is heard again and again. What business is there here of Partha's? Why is he praised, if not out of desire, hatred, or sheer anger at us? Teachers are compassionate, wise, and see danger coming; when great danger is at hand, they should not be consulted at all. In splendid palaces, in gatherings and dwellings, the learned shine where varied conversations are held. Performing many wondrous feats before an assembly of people, skilled in archery and the fine joining of weapons, the learned shine there. In knowing the weaknesses of enemies, in human customs, and in the faults of food preparation, the learned shine there. Setting the learned behind us -- men who praise the virtues of others -- let policy be arranged so that the enemy is destroyed. Let the cattle move on; let the army form its ranks without delay; and let guards be posted wherever we are to fight the enemy."
7b5aacb977f1 · published Jul 16, 2026, 6:27:29 PM UTC
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Duryodhana begins to cast aside wisdom precisely when it is needed most. So does the passion for victory turn counselors into an obstacle.