Shloka 18
स एष शूरो नित्यममर्षणश्न धीमान् प्राज्ञ: सहदेव: पतिर्मे त्यजेत् प्राणान् प्रविशेद्धव्यवाहं न त्वेवैष व्याहरेद् धर्मबाहमम्
sa eṣa śūro nityam amarṣaṇaś ca dhīmān prājñaḥ sahadevaḥ patir me tyajet prāṇān praviśed dhavyavāhaṃ na tv evaiṣa vyāhared dharmabāhamam
Vaiśampāyana said: “This man is a hero—ever intolerant of dishonour, steadfast in spirit, intelligent and wise. Sahadeva, my lord, would sooner give up his life and enter the sacrificial fire than utter any word that would violate dharma.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as non-negotiable: a truly wise and honourable person would accept even death rather than speak or act in a way that violates righteousness.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana praises Sahadeva’s character, portraying him as brave, sharp-minded, and unwavering in dharma—so steadfast that he would choose death by entering the sacrificial fire rather than utter an unrighteous statement.