Shloka 78
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
माद्रीपुत्रौ च वक्तव्यौ क्षत्रधर्मरतौ सदा । विक्रमेणार्जितान् भोगान् वृणीतं जीवितादपि
mādrīputrau ca vaktavyau kṣatradharmaratau sadā | vikrameṇārjitān bhogān vṛṇītaṃ jīvitād api ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata— “Dan sampaikan pula kepada kedua putra Mādrī, yang senantiasa teguh pada dharma kṣatriya: ‘Wahai putra-putraku, pilihlah dan pertahankan kenikmatan serta hak yang kalian raih dengan keberanian kalian sendiri—meski harus dibayar dengan nyawa.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya should uphold honor and rightful gains earned through personal valor, valuing duty and courage even above personal safety; the verse urges steadfast commitment to warrior-dharma.
Within the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel and messaging, instructions are given to address Nakula and Sahadeva specifically, exhorting them to remain firm in kṣatriya conduct and to stand by what is won through heroic effort, even if it risks their lives.