Shloka 12
अर्जुनस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति क्षात्रधर्मोपदेशः | Arjuna’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira on Kṣatra-Dharma
तच्चास्य कर्म पूज्यं च प्रशस्यं च विशाम्पते । तेनेन्द्रत्वं समापेदे देवानामिति नः श्रुतम्
taccāsya karma pūjyaṃ ca praśasyaṃ ca viśāmpate | tenendratvaṃ samāpede devānām iti naḥ śrutam ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh señor del pueblo, ese acto suyo es tenido por digno de veneración y de alabanza. Por ese mismo hecho alcanzó la soberanía de Indra entre los dioses, así lo hemos oído.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms a moral principle central to the Mahābhārata: truly commendable action (karma) is not merely socially approved but spiritually efficacious—merit gained through such a deed can elevate one to the highest rank, symbolized here by attaining Indra’s status among the gods.
Vaiśampāyana, continuing his account, addresses a ruler (“viśāmpati”) and reports a traditional conclusion: a certain person’s deed was judged worthy of honor and praise, and by that very deed he is said to have attained Indra’s position among the gods.