Shloka 41
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 71 — Kṣatra-dharma Counsel, Public Legitimacy, and Mobilization
ते वयं न श्रियं हातुमलं न््यायेन केनचित् । अत्र नो यतमानानां वधश्चेदपि साधु तत्
te vayaṁ na śriyaṁ hātuṁ alam nyāyena kenacit | atra no yatamānānāṁ vadhaś ced api sādhu tat ||
Kami tidak patut melepaskan kemakmuran yang menjadi hak kami dan warisan leluhur hanya karena suatu ‘keadilan’ yang sesungguhnya menyimpang dari dharma. Jika dalam upaya menegakkan hak itu kami sampai terbunuh, itu pun dapat diterima—sebab gugur demi dharma lebih mulia daripada hidup dengan menyerahkan yang semestinya milik kami.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is not passive surrender: one should not renounce rightful inheritance and honor under the pretext of a distorted ‘justice.’ If death comes while defending what is right, that sacrifice is ethically preferable to living through unjust capitulation.
In the Udyoga Parva’s negotiations and rising tension before the great war, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates the Pāṇḍavas’ resolve: they will not abandon their legitimate share of the kingdom, and they accept even death if it occurs while striving to uphold their rightful claim.