Shloka 30
उद्योगपर्व अध्याय १३३ — संजये मातृउपदेशः
Udyoga Parva Adhyaya 133 — A Mother’s Counsel to Saṃjaya
जहि शत्रून् रणे राजन् स्वधर्ममनुपालय । मा त्वादृशं सुकृपणं शत्रूणां भयवर्धनम्,राजन! तू युद्धमें शत्रुओंको मार और अपने धर्मका पालन कर। शत्रुओंका भय बढ़ानेवाले तुझ वीर पुत्रको मैं अत्यन्त दीन या कायरके रूपमें न देखूँ
jahi śatrūn raṇe rājan svadharmam anupālaya | mā tvādṛśaṃ sukṛpaṇaṃ śatrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanam ||
O King, strike down the enemies in battle and uphold your own dharma. Let me not see one like you reduced to wretched cowardice—becoming a cause for the enemy’s courage to grow.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges steadfastness in svadharma: a ruler/warrior must not abandon rightful duty out of fear, because visible weakness emboldens opponents and undermines honor and moral order.
A son addresses a king directly, exhorting him to fight and uphold his warrior-duty, warning him not to appear pitiable or cowardly in a way that would strengthen the enemy’s resolve.