Shloka 13
स्त्रीपर्व — नवमोऽध्यायः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra summons the Kuru women; the city departs in collective lamentation
अयुध्यमानो ग्रियते युद्धयमानस्तु जीवति । काल प्राप्प महाराज न कश्चिदतिवर्तते,“महाराज! जो युद्ध नहीं करता, वह भी मरता है और युद्ध करनेवाला भी जीवित बच जाता है। कालको पाकर कोई भी उसका उल्लंघन नहीं कर सकता
ayudhyamāno mriyate yudhyamānas tu jīvati | kālaṃ prāpya mahārāja na kaścid ativartate ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O King, one who does not fight still dies, while one who fights may yet survive. When Time has arrived, no one can overstep it.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Death is not avoided by refusing action; when Kāla (the destined time) arrives, no one can escape it. Therefore, one should not abandon rightful duty out of fear, since fate governs outcomes beyond human control.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king and frames the aftermath of war with a stark reflection: whether one fights or not, mortality remains; survival or death depends on Kāla, not merely on one’s choice to engage or withdraw.