Shloka 40
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
युधिछिर उवाच सुकृतं ते कृतं राजनू् प्रह्ृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । दुर्योधनस्य यद् वीर त्वया वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca sukṛtaṃ te kṛtaṃ rājan prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | duryodhanasya yad vīra tvayā vācā pratiśrutam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : « Ô roi, vaillant héros, tu as bien agi — l’âme intérieure joyeuse — en donnant à Duryodhana ta parole de soutien. »
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) and the dharma of keeping one’s pledged word (pratiśruti). Even when circumstances are tense and war is near, a kṣatriya-king’s integrity is measured by steadiness of speech and inner clarity rather than opportunistic reversal.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king/hero and approves that he has, with a pleased and sincere heart, given Duryodhana a verbal assurance of help. The line situates the story in the pre-war negotiations of the Udyoga Parva, where alliances and vows intensify the ethical stakes.