Shloka 5
स्त्रीपर्व — अध्याय १५: गान्धारी-युधिष्ठिर-संवादः
Gandhārī’s Confrontation and Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira
सैन्यस्यैको5वशिष्टो5यं गदायुद्धेन वीर्यवान् । मां हत्वा न हरेद् राज्यमिति वै तत् कृतं मया,“कौरव-सेनाका एकमात्र बचा हुआ यह पराक्रमी वीर गदायुद्धके द्वारा मुझे मारकर पुनः सारा राज्य हर न ले, इसी आशंकासे मैंने वह अयोग्य बर्ताव किया था
sainyasya eko 'vaśiṣṭo 'yaṃ gadāyuddhena vīryavān | māṃ hatvā na hared rājyam iti vai tat kṛtaṃ mayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “This one valiant warrior was the sole survivor of the army, mighty in the combat of the mace. Fearing that, after slaying me, he might seize the kingdom again, I acted in that way.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear of future harm and political loss can drive questionable conduct in war. It frames an ethical tension: acting from prudence and self-preservation versus adhering to fair conduct (dharma) even under threat.
The speaker explains that only one powerful mace-fighter remained from the opposing army, and out of concern that this survivor might kill him and reclaim the kingdom, he justifies having done “that act” (an action implied to be improper or at least morally fraught).