Shloka 12
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 31 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Instructions to Sañjaya
Peace Appeal and Five-Village Proposal
परो धर्मात् पाण्डवस्यानृशंस्यं धर्म: परो वित्तचयान्मतो<स्य । सुखप्रिये धर्महीने5नपार्थे5- नुरुध्यते भारत तस्य बुद्धि:
paro dharmāt pāṇḍavasyānṛśaṃsyaṃ dharmaḥ paro vittacayān mato 'sya | sukhapriye dharmahīne 'napārthe 'nurudhyate bhārata tasya buddhiḥ ||
قال سَنْجَيَا: «يا بهاراتا، إن الرحمة وترك الأذى عند ذلك الباندَفي تعلو حتى على سائر وجوه الدارما. وهو يرى ممارسة الدارما أسمى من كنز الثروة. ولا يندفع عقله وراء اللذة والأشياء المحببة إذا كانت خالية من الدارما وبلا غاية حقّة.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ānṛśaṃsya (compassion/non-cruelty) as a supreme expression of dharma and contrasts it with the pursuit of wealth and pleasure. True moral judgment refuses pleasures that are adharmic and purposeless.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra about Yudhiṣṭhira’s character and values during the tense pre-war negotiations: he prioritizes compassion and righteousness over material gain and does not chase pleasure when it conflicts with dharma.