Shloka 4

Devanagari script

उपप्लब्ये निविष्टोडपि धर्ममेव युधिष्ठिर: । काडक्षते ज्ञाति सौहार्दादू बलवान्‌ दुर्बलो यथा,वे युद्धके लिये उद्यत हो उपप्लव्य नगरमें छावनी डालकर बैठे हुए हैं, तथापि भाई- बन्धुओंके सौहार्दवश धर्मकी ही आकांक्षा रखते हैं। बलवान्‌ होकर भी दुर्बलकी भाँति संधि करना चाहते हैं

Transliteration

upaplabyē niviṣṭo 'pi dharmam eva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | kāṅkṣate jñāti-sauhārdād balavān durbalo yathā ||

Translation

Waiśampāyana berkata: Walau telah berkemah di Upaplavya dan bersiap untuk perang, Yudhiṣṭhira tetap menghendaki dharma semata. Karena kasih dan niat baik kepada sanak-keluarganya, ia merindukan perdamaian—meski kuat, ia ingin berdamai seolah-olah lemah.

Word by Word

उपप्लव्येin Upaplavya

निविष्टःhaving encamped / having settled

अपिeven / although

धर्मम्dharma / righteousness

एवindeed / only

युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira

काङ्क्षतेdesires / longs for

ज्ञाति-सौहार्दात्from kinship-affection / due to goodwill among kinsmen

बलवान्strong (one)

दुर्बलःweak (one)

यथाas / like

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Upaplavya

jñātayaḥ (kinsmen/relatives, implicitly the Kauravas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True strength is shown by restraint: even when militarily prepared, Yudhiṣṭhira prioritizes dharma and seeks a peaceful settlement out of regard for family bonds, choosing reconciliation over domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Pāṇḍavas are stationed at Upaplavya and ready for war, yet Yudhiṣṭhira—despite having power—still desires a treaty/peace, motivated by goodwill toward his relatives, indicating continued efforts to avoid fratricidal conflict.