Shloka 12
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
युध्यस्वैनं कुरुश्रेष्ठ पितरं युद्धदुर्मदम् । एवमेष हि ते प्रीतो भविष्यति न संशय:,“तुम्हारे पिता कुरुकुलके श्रेष्ठ वीर और युद्धके मदसे उन्मत्त रहनेवाले हैं। अतः इनके साथ अवश्य युद्ध करो। ऐसा करनेसे ये तुमपर प्रसन्न होंगे। इसमें संशय नहीं है”
yudhyasvainaṃ kuruśreṣṭha pitaraṃ yuddhadurmadam | evameṣa hi te prīto bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Fight with him, O best of the Kurus—your own father, who is intoxicated with the pride of battle. By doing so, he will indeed be pleased with you; of this there is no doubt.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames combat, even against a close relative, as a duty-bound act within the warrior code when the opponent seeks martial testing; meeting such a challenge can be an expression of honor that earns the elder’s approval.
Vaiśampāyana narrates an instruction to a Kuru hero to engage in battle with his own father, described as battle-intoxicated; the assurance is that accepting the fight will please the father.