Shloka 26
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 146 — Brāhmaṇī’s counsel on grief, duty, and protection of children
वयं तु यदि दाहस्य बिभ्यत: प्रद्रवेमहि । स्पशै्निर्घितियेत् सर्वान् राज्यलुब्ध: सुयोधन:,यदि हम जलनेके भयसे डरकर भाग चलें तो भी राज्यलोभी दुर्योधन हम सबको अपने गुप्तचरोंद्वारा मरवा सकता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | vayaṃ tu yadi dāhasya bibhyataḥ pradravema hi | spaśair nirghātayet sarvān rājya-lubdhaḥ suyodhanaḥ ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «حتى لو فررنا خوفًا من الاحتراق، فإن سويودهنَ—الطامع في المُلك—سيجعل جواسيسه يفتكون بنا جميعًا. فالهرب وحده لا يرفع الخطر؛ بل لا يزيد إلا أن يسلّم الميدان لطموحٍ جائر.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear-driven escape is not always a moral or practical solution; when an aggressor is driven by greed and uses covert means, safety requires clear-eyed strategy and steadfastness rather than panic.
Yudhiṣṭhira reasons that even if they flee to avoid a deadly threat (burning), Duryodhana—intent on seizing the kingdom—can still eliminate them through spies, so the danger persists despite flight.