Shloka 19
Vyāsa’s Consolation to Yudhiṣṭhira: Tapas, Kāla, and the Difficulty of Dāna (दान-तपस्-विवेकः)
“अतः तुमलोग धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरकी आज्ञासे इन महापराक्रमी धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रों तथा इनकी स्त्रियोंको छोड़ दो ।। यदा साम्ना न मुज्चध्वं गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान् । मोक्षयिष्यामि विक्रम्प स्वयमेव सुयोधनम्,“गन्धर्वो! यदि इस प्रकार समझाने-बुझानेसे तुमलोग धूृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंको नहीं छोड़ोगे, तो मैं स्वयं ही पराक्रम करके दुर्योधनको छुड़ा लूँगा”
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ataḥ tumaloga dharmarāja yudhiṣṭhirakī ājñāse ime mahāparākramī dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ tathā etāḥ striyaś ca muñcata ||
yadā sāmnā na muñcadhvaṃ gandharvā dhṛtarāṣṭrajān |
mokṣayiṣyāmi vikramya svayam eva suyodhanam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Therefore, by the command of Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, release these mighty sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, along with their women. O Gandharvas, if you will not let the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra go when addressed with conciliation, then I myself will display valor and free Suyodhana (Duryodhana).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts persuasion (sāman) with force (vikrama): one should first seek a righteous resolution through conciliatory speech, yet be prepared to act decisively to uphold duty and protect those under one’s responsibility.
A speaker, invoking Yudhiṣṭhira’s authority, orders the Gandharvas to release Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and their women; if they refuse to be persuaded, he declares he will personally use valor to free Suyodhana (Duryodhana).