Shloka 12
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
एष एव परो धर्मों राजर्षीणां युधिष्ठिर । समरे वा भवेन्मृत्युर्वने वा विधिपूर्वकम्
eṣa eva paro dharmo rājarṣīṇāṁ yudhiṣṭhira | samare vā bhaven mṛtyur vane vā vidhipūrvakam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “This indeed is the highest dharma for royal sages, O Yudhiṣṭhira: whether death comes on the battlefield, or in the forest in accordance with prescribed rites. In either case, the righteous end—met with discipline and fidelity to duty—is held to be supreme.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a rājarṣi, the supreme dharma is to meet death in a manner consistent with duty—either as a kṣatriya facing battle, or as a renunciant in the forest following prescribed discipline and rites. The emphasis is on integrity of conduct rather than the location of death.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira while discussing the standards of conduct for kings who turn toward ascetic ideals. He frames two legitimate, dharma-grounded ends for such rulers: heroic death in war or a rule-bound death in forest retirement.