Shloka 8
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४१: कर्ण–कृष्णसंवादः, उत्पात-स्वप्न-लक्षणानि
Karna–Krishna Dialogue: Omens and Dream-Signs
यदा द्रक्ष्यसि संग्रामे कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । जपहोमसमायुक्तं स्वां रक्षन्तं महाचमूम्
sañjaya uvāca | yadā drakṣyasi saṅgrāme kuntīputraṁ yudhiṣṭhiram | japahomasamāyuktaṁ svāṁ rakṣantaṁ mahācamūm ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Wenn du auf dem Schlachtfeld Yudhiṣṭhira, den Sohn der Kuntī, erblickst—standhaft in japa und in den Opferhandlungen (homa), wie er sein gewaltiges Heer schützt—dann wirst du sehen, wie innere Zucht und heilige Pflicht mitten im Krieg bestehen können: Ein König bewahrt sein Volk und bleibt doch im Dharma verankert.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata ideal that dharma is not abandoned in crisis: even amid war, a righteous king can remain grounded in sacred discipline (japa and homa) while fulfilling the protective duty of leadership.
Sañjaya describes to the listener what will be seen in the coming conflict: Yudhiṣṭhira, identified as Kuntī’s son, engaged in religious observances and simultaneously guarding his large army on the battlefield.