Shloka 20
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
असम्भवे तु सर्वस्य यथा मुख्येन निष्पतेत् । क्रमेणानेन मुक्ति: स्याच्छरीरमिति केवलम्,यदि किसी भी उपायसे संधि न हो तो मुख्य साधनको लेकर विपक्षीपर युद्धके लिये टूट पड़े। इस क्रमसे शरीर चला जाय तो भी वीर पुरुषकी मुक्ति ही होती है। केवल शरीर दे देना ही उसका मुख्य साधन है
asambhave tu sarvasya yathā mukhyena niṣpatet | krameṇānena muktiḥ syāc charīram iti kevalam ||
Pero si por ningún medio es posible un acuerdo, entonces debe tomarse el curso principal y lanzarse contra el bando contrario para la batalla. Si, en esa secuencia de acción, el cuerpo se pierde, aun así para el hombre heroico ello conduce a la liberación; pues su medio decisivo es, sencillamente, la ofrenda del propio cuerpo.
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
When peaceful resolution is impossible, one should adopt the primary duty appropriate to the situation—here, the warrior’s decisive action in battle. Even the loss of the body, if undertaken in alignment with duty and courage, is framed as leading to liberation rather than mere ruin.
The speaker advises a course of action for a conflict scenario: if negotiations or other means cannot produce a settlement, one should commit to the main recourse—engaging the enemy directly. The verse underscores the ethical valuation of steadfastness and self-offering in a dharmic struggle.