Shloka 3
धर्मसूक्ष्मे त्यागप्रधान्यविचारः
Subtle Dharma and the Primacy of Renunciation
त्वं तु केवलमस्त्रज्ञो वीरब्रतसमन्वित: । शास्त्रार्थ तत्त्वतो गन्तुं न समर्थ: कथंचन
tvaṃ tu kevalam astrājño vīravratasamanvitaḥ | śāstrārthaṃ tattvato gantuṃ na samarthaḥ kathaṃcana ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Namun engkau hanyalah seorang yang menguasai ilmu senjata, teguh dalam laku dan ikrar seorang ksatria. Untuk menangkap hakikat makna śāstra, engkau sama sekali tidak mampu.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts technical prowess (knowledge of weapons and warrior discipline) with the deeper competence required to understand śāstra in its true intent. It implies that ethical and philosophical discernment demands more than martial skill—one must be qualified to grasp principles (tattva) rather than merely practice a craft.
In the Shānti Parva’s dharma discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses another party and remarks that the person is primarily a martial expert, not fit to penetrate the true meaning of scriptural teaching. The statement functions as a critique of limited qualification in a debate on dharma and śāstra.