Shloka 23
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 30: Sañjaya’s Departure and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Commission of Greetings
अलमेव शमायास्मि तथा युद्धाय संजय । धर्मार्थयोरलं चाहं मृदवे दारुणाय च
alam eva śamāyāsmi tathā yuddhāya sañjaya | dharmārthayor alaṃ cāhaṃ mṛdave dāruṇāya ca ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Sañjaya, aku sepenuhnya mampu memelihara damai, dan sama mampu mengangkat perang. Aku memahami dharma dan artha sebagaimana adanya. Menurut tuntutan waktu, aku dapat bersikap lembut, dan aku pun dapat bersikap tegas.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler grounded in dharma must also understand artha and act with situational wisdom: peace is preferable when it protects justice, but firmness—even war—may be required when justice is threatened. True strength includes both restraint and the capacity for decisive severity.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Sañjaya (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s envoy), asserting that the Pāṇḍavas are not weak or confused: he can pursue peace sincerely, yet he is prepared for war if dharma demands it, and he can be gentle or harsh as circumstances require.