Shloka 8
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
न सकामा: परे कार्या धर्ममेवाचरोत्तमम् । भ्रातरं धार्मिकं ज्येष्ठं को$तिवर्तितुमरहति
na sakāmāḥ pare kāryā dharmam evācarottamam | bhrātaraṃ dhārmikaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ ko 'tivartitum arhati, bhaiyā | śatrūṇāṃ kāmanāṃ saphalāṃ na karo; uttama dharmakā hī ācaraṇa karo | bhalā, apane dharmātmā jyeṣṭha bhrātākā apamāna kauna kara saktā hai? |
Arjuna berkata, “Saudaraku, jangan bertindak karena nafsu, dan jangan memenuhi kehendak musuh. Jalankan dharma saja—itulah jalan tertinggi. Siapa yang patut melangkahi atau menghina kakak tertua kita yang saleh?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Act from dharma rather than desire, and do not enable an adversary’s aims; uphold righteous conduct and honor rightful familial hierarchy, especially the dharmic eldest brother.
In the Sabha Parva context of political tension and humiliation, Arjuna urges restraint and principled action: he counsels that one should not transgress against the eldest, righteous brother, nor behave in a way that grants success to enemies.