Shloka 34
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
युद्धयस्व राजधर्मेण मा निमज्जी: पितामहान् । मा गम: क्षीणपुण्यस्त्वं सानुज: पापिकां गतिम्,अतः तुम राजधर्मके अनुसार युद्ध करो। कायर बनकर अपने बाप-दादोंका नाम मत डुबाओ और भाइयोंसहित पुण्यसे वंचित होकर पापमयी गतिको न प्राप्त होओ
yudhyasva rājadharmeṇa mā nimajjīḥ pitāmahān | mā gamaḥ kṣīṇapuṇyas tvaṃ sānujaḥ pāpikāṃ gatim ||
Vāyu dijo: «Combate conforme al rājadharma, el deber del rey. No te hundas en la cobardía ni deshonres a tus antepasados. No caigas tú, junto con tus hermanos, en un fin pecaminoso, privado de mérito.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should uphold rājadharma—especially a kṣatriya’s obligation to protect justice and honor—by acting with courage and responsibility. Cowardice is portrayed not merely as personal weakness but as a moral failure that stains ancestral reputation and leads to loss of merit and a sinful destiny.
Vāyudeva addresses a warrior-king figure, urging him to enter battle according to the rightful code of kingship. The speech frames the coming conflict as a dharmic obligation and warns that retreat would disgrace the lineage and bring spiritual and ethical downfall for him and his brothers.