Shloka 10
Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)
आददानस्य विजयं विग्रहं च युधिष्ठिर । समानधर्मकुशला: स्थापयन्ति नरेश्वर,“राजा युधिष्ठिर! विषम भावसे रहित धर्ममें कुशल पुरुष विजय पानेकी इच्छावाले राजाके लिये संग्रामकी ही स्थापना करते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ādādānasya vijayaṁ vigrahaṁ ca yudhiṣṭhira |
samānadharmakuśalāḥ sthāpayanti nareśvara ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, wahai penguasa manusia: bagi seorang raja yang hendak meneguhkan kemenangan dan siap menempuh pertikaian, orang-orang yang mahir dalam dharma serta bebas dari keberpihakan menetapkan jalan perang itu sendiri sebagai sarana yang diatur—bukan sebagai luapan nafsu atau kekejaman.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
War, when undertaken by a king for victory, should be instituted and regulated by impartial experts in dharma—so that conflict serves a principled purpose and remains bounded by righteous norms rather than personal bias or rage.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, explaining how dharma-versed counselors frame and authorize warfare for a ruler seeking victory, emphasizing impartiality and rule-governed conduct.