भ्राता कनीयान् अपि तस्य मन्दस्; तथाशीलः संजय सो ऽपि शश्वत् ॥
महेष्वासः शूरतमः कुरूणां; दुःशासनं कुशलं तात पृच्छेः ॥
वृन्दारकं कविम् अर्थेष्व् अमूढं; महाप्रज्ञं सर्वधर्मोपपन्नम् ॥
न तस्य युद्धं रोचते वै कदा चिद्; वैश्यापुत्रं कुशलं तात पृच्छेः ॥
निकर्तने देवने यो ऽद्वितीयश्; छन्नोपधः साधुदेवी मताक्षः ॥
यो दुर्जयो देवितव्येन संख्ये; स चित्रसेनः कुशलं तात वाच्यः ॥
यस्य कामो वर्तते नित्यम् एव; नान्यः शमाद् भारतानाम् इति स्म ॥
स बाह्लिकानाम् ऋषभो मनस्वी; पुरा यथा माभिवदेत् प्रसन्नः ॥
गुणैर् अनेकैः प्रवरैश् च युक्तो; विज्ञानवान् नैव च निष्ठुरो यः ॥
स्नेहाद् अमर्षं सहते सदैव; स सोमदत्तः पूजनीयो मतो मे ॥
bhrātā kanīyān api tasya mandas; tathāśīlaḥ saṃjaya so 'pi śaśvat ||
maheṣvāsaḥ śūratamaḥ kurūṇāṃ; duḥśāsanaṃ kuśalaṃ tāta pṛccheḥ ||
vṛndārakaṃ kavim artheṣv amūḍhaṃ; mahāprajñaṃ sarvadharmopapannam ||
na tasya yuddhaṃ rocate vai kadā cid; vaiśyāputraṃ kuśalaṃ tāta pṛccheḥ ||
nikartane devane yo 'dvitīyaś; channopadhaḥ sādhudevī matākṣaḥ ||
yo durjayo devitavyena saṃkhye; sa citrasenaḥ kuśalaṃ tāta vācyaḥ ||
yasya kāmo vartate nityam eva; nānyaḥ śamād bhāratānām iti sma ||
sa bāhlikānām ṛṣabho manasvī; purā yathā mābhivadet prasannaḥ ||
guṇair anekaiḥ pravaraiś ca yukto; vijñānavān naiva ca niṣṭhuro yaḥ ||
snehād amarṣaṃ sahate sadaiva; sa somadattaḥ pūjanīyo mato me ||
You must also, O Sanjaya, ask, O lord, after the welfare of the eldest of Dhritarashtra's sons, Suyodhana, who is wicked, ignorant, deceitful and depraved, and who now rules over the whole world. You must also ask after the welfare of even the wicked Duhshasana, that mighty archer and hero among the Kurus, who is Duryodhana's younger brother and shares a character like that of his elder brother. You must, O Sanjaya, also greet the wise lord of the Bahlikas, who ever cherishes no other wish than that peace should reign among the Bharatas. I think you should also pay homage to that Somadatta, who is endowed with many excellent qualities, who is wise and possessed of a merciful heart, and who, out of his attachment to the Kurus, always restrains his anger toward them. The son of Somadatta is worthy of the greatest reverence among the Kurus. He is a friend and a brother to us. A mighty archer and the best of chariot-warriors, he is deserving in every respect. You must, O Sanjaya, inquire after his welfare, and also after the welfare of his friends and counselors. Among the Kauravas there are other young men as well, who are to us as sons, grandsons, and brothers.
0b553043d7ca · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:43:08 AM UTC
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This passage (5.30.16-20) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace unfolds already against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Key themes: Sanjaya, war. Here dharma reveals itself through speech, through the choice of an envoy, through fidelity to one's word, and through the responsibility kings bear for the consequences of their decisions.