Shloka 15
Śikhaṇḍin’s Transformation, Daśārṇa Verification, and Kubera’s Conditional Curse
Udyoga Parva 193
नतु युक्त रणे हन्तुं दिव्यैरस्त्रै: पृथगजनम् । आर्जवेनैव युद्धेन विजेष्यामो वयं परान्
na tu yuktaṃ raṇe hantuṃ divyair astraiḥ pṛthagjanam | ārjavenaiva yuddhena vijeṣyāmo vayaṃ parān ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “It is not proper in battle to slay ordinary people with celestial weapons. Therefore, we shall conquer our foes only through straightforward, honorable combat.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, victory should be pursued within dharma: extraordinary, indiscriminate force (divine weapons) should not be used against ordinary combatants; honorable, straightforward fighting is upheld as ethically proper.
Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a rule of restraint for the coming conflict, rejecting the use of celestial weapons against common people and affirming that the Pandavas will seek victory through direct, fair combat.