Shloka 26
मārkaṇḍeya-ukta yuddha-vyūha-pratyavyūhaḥ
Battle Formations and Countermeasures in the Rāmopākhyāna
धौग्य उवाच नेयं शक्या त्वया नेतुमविजित्य महारथान् । धर्म क्षत्रस्य पौराणमवेक्षस्व जयद्रथ,तब धौम्यने कहा--जयद्रथ! तू क्षत्रियोंके प्राचीन धर्मपर दृष्टिपात कर। महारथी पाण्डवोंको परास्त किये बिना इसे ले जानेका तुझे कोई अधिकार नहीं है
Dhaumya uvāca: neyaṁ śakyā tvayā netum avijitya mahārathān | dharmaṁ kṣatrasya paurāṇam avekṣasva Jayadratha ||
Dhaumya said: “You cannot carry her away unless you first defeat the great chariot-warriors. O Jayadratha, look to the ancient dharma of the kṣatriya: without overcoming the Pāṇḍavas in battle, you have no rightful claim to take her.”
धौग्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dhaumya invokes kṣatriya-dharma: forceful taking is illegitimate unless sanctioned by open, honorable combat against the rightful protectors. Power must be restrained by traditional ethical rules, not mere desire.
As Jayadratha attempts to take the Pāṇḍavas’ wife away, Dhaumya confronts him, warning that he has no right to do so unless he first defeats the Pāṇḍavas—renowned mahārathas—according to the warrior code.