Shloka 20
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
असम्भवे तु सर्वस्य यथा मुख्येन निष्पतेत् । क्रमेणानेन मुक्ति: स्याच्छरीरमिति केवलम्
asambhave tu sarvasya yathā mukhyena niṣpatet | krameṇānena muktiḥ syāc charīram iti kevalam ||
だが、いかなる手立てを尽くしても和議が成らぬなら、要の策を取り、敵方へ戦のために突進せよ。その行いの順の中で身が失われようとも、勇士にとってはなお解脱となる。彼にとって決定的な手段とは、ただこの身を捧げることにほかならぬ。
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
When peaceful resolution is impossible, one should adopt the primary duty appropriate to the situation—here, the warrior’s decisive action in battle. Even the loss of the body, if undertaken in alignment with duty and courage, is framed as leading to liberation rather than mere ruin.
The speaker advises a course of action for a conflict scenario: if negotiations or other means cannot produce a settlement, one should commit to the main recourse—engaging the enemy directly. The verse underscores the ethical valuation of steadfastness and self-offering in a dharmic struggle.