Shloka 8
संवादे परुषाण्याहुर्युधिष्ठिर नराधमा: । प्रत्याहुर्मध्यमास्त्वेतेडनुक्ता: परुषमुत्तरम्,युधिष्ठिर! नीच मनुष्य साधारण बातचीतमें भी कटुवचन बोलने लगते हैं। जो स्वयं पहले कटु वचन न कहकर प्रत्युत्तरमें कठोर बातें कहते हैं, वे मध्यम श्रेणीके पुरुष हैं। परंतु जो धीर एवं श्रेष्ठ पुरुष हैं, वे किसीके कटुवचन बोलने या न बोलनेपर भी अपने मुखसे कभी कठोर एवं अहितकर बात नहीं निकालते
saṃvāde paruṣāṇy āhur yudhiṣṭhira narādhamāḥ | pratyāhur madhyamās tv ete anuktāḥ paruṣam uttaram ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In ordinary conversation, the lowest of men are the ones who begin by speaking harshly. Those who do not start with harsh words but reply with harshness when provoked are men of the middle sort. But the steadfast and truly noble never let harsh and harmful speech escape their mouths—whether others speak harshly to them or not.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks people by their relationship to harsh speech: the worst initiate cruelty in words, the middling retaliate only when provoked, and the truly noble maintain restraint and avoid harmful speech regardless of others’ behavior.
In the Sabha Parva’s ethical discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a standard of conduct centered on vāg-dharma (righteous speech), emphasizing self-mastery and non-harm in dialogue.