न युज्यते कर्म युष्मासु हीनं; सत्त्वं हि वस् तादृशं भीमसेनाः ॥
उद्भासते ह्य् अञ्जनबिन्दुवत् तच्; छुक्ले वस्त्रे यद् भवेत् किल्बिषं वः ॥
सर्वक्षयो दृश्यते यत्र कृत्स्नः; पापोदयो निरयो ऽभावसंस्थः ॥
कस् तत् कुर्याज् जातु कर्म प्रजानन्; पराजयो यत्र समो जयश् च ॥
ते वै धन्या यैः कृतं ज्ञातिकार्यं; ये वः पुत्राः सुहृदो बान्धवाश् च ॥
उपक्रुष्टं जीवितं संत्यजेयुस्; ततः कुरूणां नियतो वै भवः स्यात् ॥
ते चेत् कुरून् अनुशास्य स्थ पार्था; निनीय सर्वान् द्विषतो निगृह्य ॥
समं वस् तज् जीवितं मृत्युना स्याद्; यज् जीवध्वं ज्ञातिवधे न साधु ॥
को ह्य् एव युष्मान् सह केशवेन; सचेकितानान् पार्षतबाहुगुप्तान् ॥
ससात्यकीन् विषहेत प्रजेतुं; लब्ध्वापि देवान् सचिवान् सहेन्द्रान् ॥
na yujyate karma yuṣmāsu hīnaṃ; sattvaṃ hi vas tādṛśaṃ bhīmasenāḥ ||
udbhāsate hy añjanabinduvat tac; chukle vastre yad bhavet kilbiṣaṃ vaḥ ||
sarvakṣayo dṛśyate yatra kṛtsnaḥ; pāpodayo nirayo 'bhāvasaṃsthaḥ ||
kas tat kuryāj jātu karma prajānan; parājayo yatra samo jayaś ca ||
te vai dhanyā yaiḥ kṛtaṃ jñātikāryaṃ; ye vaḥ putrāḥ suhṛdo bāndhavāś ca ||
upakruṣṭaṃ jīvitaṃ saṃtyajeyus; tataḥ kurūṇāṃ niyato vai bhavaḥ syāt ||
te cet kurūn anuśāsya stha pārthā; ninīya sarvān dviṣato nigṛhya ||
samaṃ vas taj jīvitaṃ mṛtyunā syād; yaj jīvadhvaṃ jñātivadhe na sādhu ||
ko hy eva yuṣmān saha keśavena; sacekitānān pārṣatabāhuguptān ||
sasātyakīn viṣaheta prajetuṃ; labdhvāpi devān sacivān sahendrān ||
If you were to commit a sinful act, it would be a stain upon your good name, like a drop of collyrium upon white cloth. Who could knowingly ever be guilty of a deed that would bring about universal slaughter, that would be sinful and lead to hell -- a deed consisting in the destruction of people, a deed whose result, whether victory or defeat, has the very same worth? Blessed are those who have served the cause of their kinsmen. They are the true sons, friends, and relatives (of the race of Kuru) who are ready to give up their lives -- lives that might be tainted by wicked deeds -- to secure the welfare of the Kurus. If you, sons of Pritha, chastise the Kurus by defeating and killing all your enemies, your subsequent life will be the equivalent of death, for what is life after you have slain all your kinsmen? Who, even were he Indra himself with all the gods at his side, could conquer you, aided as you are by Keshava, Chekitana, and Satyaki, and protected by the weapon of Dhrishtadyumna?
e8de0c2e9582 · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:43:08 AM UTC
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This passage, 5.25.6-10, develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace is already under way against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Here dharma is revealed through speech, the choice of an embassy, faithfulness to one's word, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.