Shloka 13
Udyoga Parva 21 — Bhīṣma’s Conciliatory Counsel, Karṇa’s Rebuttal, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra Sends Sañjaya (भीष्म-कर्ण-विवादः; संजय-प्रेषणम्)
यदि काडुश्षन्ति ते राज्यं पितृपैतामहं पुन: । यथाप्रतिज्ञं काल॑ तं चरन्तु वनमाश्रिता:,“यदि पाण्डव अपने बाप-दादोंका राज्य लेना चाहते हैं तो पूर्व-प्रतिज्ञाके अनुसार उतने समयतक पुनः वनमें निवास करें
yadi kāṅkṣanti te rājyaṃ pitṛpaitāmahaṃ punaḥ | yathā-pratijñaṃ kālaṃ taṃ carantu vanam āśritāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Si les Pāṇḍavas désirent recouvrer le royaume ancestral hérité de leur père et de leurs aïeux, alors—conformément au serment jadis prononcé—qu’ils demeurent dans la forêt pour cette même durée.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma as fidelity to one’s pledged word: rightful claims to power must be pursued without violating agreed conditions, and ethical legitimacy is tied to honoring prior commitments.
In the Udyoga Parva’s negotiation context, a condition is articulated: if the Pāṇḍavas seek to reclaim their ancestral kingdom, they should first complete the promised term of forest-dwelling, in accordance with the earlier agreement.