Shloka 24
युधिष्ठटिरस्य संदेशो न हन्तव्या नूपा इति । तेन जीवसि राजंस्त्वमपराद्धो5पि मे रणे,“राजन! महाराज युधिष्ठटिरका यह आदेश है कि “तुम युद्धमें रुजाओंका वध न करना।' इसीलिये तुम मेरा अपराध करनेपर भी अबतक जीवित हो”
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Yudhiṣṭhirasya saṃdeśo na hantavyā nṛpā iti | tena jīvasi rājan tvam aparāddho 'pi me raṇe ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “This is the command of Yudhiṣṭhira: ‘Kings are not to be slain.’ Therefore, O king, even though you offended me in battle, you are still alive—because I have acted in accordance with that injunction.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma can impose restraints: Yudhiṣṭhira’s instruction forbids the killing of kings, emphasizing ethical limits and self-control over vengeance.
A speaker explains why an addressed king remains alive despite having committed an offense in battle: the survivor’s life is spared because Yudhiṣṭhira had issued an order not to kill kings.