Shloka 23
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
युधिछिर उवाच शृणुध्वं यत् करिष्यामि कर्म वै कुरुनन्दना: । विराटमनुसम्प्राप्य राजानं पुरुषर्षभा:,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--नरश्रेष्ठ कुरुनन्दनो! मैं राजा विराटके यहाँ चलकर जो कार्य करूँगा, वह बताता हूँ; सुनो
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: śṛṇudhvaṃ yat kariṣyāmi karma vai Kurunandanāḥ | Virāṭam anusamprāpya rājānaṃ puruṣarṣabhāḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O descendants of Kuru, best among men—listen to what I intend to do. Having reached King Virāṭa, I will set about the course of action that will secure our concealment and uphold our duty.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deliberate, dharma-aligned action: Yudhiṣṭhira frames their next steps as a planned ‘karma’ to be undertaken after reaching Virāṭa, emphasizing disciplined counsel and collective attentiveness before acting—an ethical model of leadership under pressure.
At the start of the Virāṭa Parva, the Pāṇḍavas are preparing to enter Virāṭa’s realm for their year of concealment. Yudhiṣṭhira addresses his brothers, asking them to listen as he explains what he will do upon approaching King Virāṭa.