Shloka 8
संवादे परुषाण्याहुर्युधिष्ठिर नराधमा: । प्रत्याहुर्मध्यमास्त्वेतेडनुक्ता: परुषमुत्तरम्
saṃvāde paruṣāṇy āhur yudhiṣṭhira narādhamāḥ | pratyāhur madhyamās tv ete anuktāḥ paruṣam uttaram ||
Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, dalam percakapan biasa, yang paling rendah ialah mereka yang memulai dengan kata-kata kasar. Mereka yang tidak memulai, namun membalas dengan kekasaran ketika diprovokasi, termasuk golongan menengah.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks people by their relationship to harsh speech: the worst initiate cruelty in words, the middling retaliate only when provoked, and the truly noble maintain restraint and avoid harmful speech regardless of others’ behavior.
In the Sabha Parva’s ethical discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a standard of conduct centered on vāg-dharma (righteous speech), emphasizing self-mastery and non-harm in dialogue.