Shloka 12
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 126 — Kṛṣṇa’s Indictment of Misrule and the Varuṇa Analogy (कृष्णवाक्यं–धर्मपाशदृष्टान्तः)
न चापि वयमुग्रेण कर्मणा वचनेन वा । प्रभ्रष्टा: प्रणमामेह भयादपि शतक्रतुम्,“हमलोग किसीके भयंकर कर्म अथवा भयानक वचनसे भयभीत हो क्षत्रियधर्मसे च्युत होकर साक्षात् इन्द्रके सामने भी नतमस्तक नहीं हो सकते
na cāpi vayam ugreṇa karmaṇā vacanena vā | prabhraṣṭāḥ praṇamāmeha bhayād api śatakratum ||
قال فَيْشَمْبَايَنَة: «لسنا ممن إذا أفزعته أفعالٌ ضارية أو كلماتٌ مرعبةٌ لأحدٍ انحرف عن شريعة الكشاتريا، فينحني هنا—ولو من الخوف—حتى أمام شتاكرتو (إندرا) نفسه.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts steadfastness in kṣatriya-dharma: one should not abandon honor and duty out of fear—whether fear arises from violent actions or intimidating speech—even if the pressure comes from the highest authority (symbolized by Indra).
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and rising tensions, the speaker (through Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration) voices a defiant stance: they will not submit or abase themselves out of fear, emphasizing resolve and adherence to warrior ethics as conflict approaches.