Mahabharata · 5.137.21-22
॥
Devanāgarī
पुनर् उक्तं च वक्ष्यामि यत् कार्यं भूतिम् इच्छता ॥
सुहृदा मज्जमानेषु सुहृत्सु व्यसनार्णवे ॥
अलं युद्धेन तैर् वीरैः शाम्य त्वं कुरुवृद्धये ॥
मा गमः ससुतामात्यः सबलश् च पराभवम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
punar uktaṃ ca vakṣyāmi yat kāryaṃ bhūtim icchatā ||
suhṛdā majjamāneṣu suhṛtsu vyasanārṇave ||
alaṃ yuddhena tair vīraiḥ śāmya tvaṃ kuruvṛddhaye ||
mā gamaḥ sasutāmātyaḥ sabalaś ca parābhavam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पुनर्punaragain; once more
उक्तंuktaṃsaid; what has been said
चcaand; also
वक्ष्यामिvakṣyāmiI will say; I shall speak
यत्yatwhat; that which
कार्यंkāryaṃought to be done; the fitting deed
भूतिम्bhūtimwelfare; prosperity
इच्छताicchatādesiring; wishing for
सुहृदाsuhṛdāby a friend; by a well-wisher
मज्जमानेषुmajjamāneṣuwhen they are sinking; drowning
सुहृत्सुsuhṛtsuamong friends; dear ones
व्यसनार्णवेvyasanārṇavein the ocean of calamity; in the sea of misfortune
अलंalaṃenough; sufficient
युद्धेनyuddhenawith war; with battle
तैर्tairwith those; with these
वीरैःvīraiḥheroes; valiant men
शाम्यśāmyamake peace; be pacified
त्वंtvaṃyou; thee
कुरुवृद्धयेkuruvṛddhayefor the prosperity of the Kurus; for the elevation of the Kuru line
माmādo not; let not
गमःgamaḥgo; proceed toward
ससुतामात्यःsasutāmātyaḥtogether with your sons and ministers; with sons and counselors
सबलश्sabalaświth your army; with your forces
चcaand; also
पराभवम्parābhavamto defeat; to ruinous humiliation
Translation
"Again I will say what a friend desiring one's welfare must say, when friends are sinking in an ocean of calamity. Enough of war with these heroes. Make peace, for the prosperity of the Kurus. Do not go to your ruin together with your sons, ministers, and army."
Version
88bd9a176cd1 · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:59:56 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona's final words sound as a friend's last warning: a true well-wisher speaks not what flatters pride, but what saves from ruin. Peace here is presented not as weakness, but as the one action that can preserve the Kuru line.