Shloka 7
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
यदा स्वपक्षो बलवान् परपक्षस्तथाबल: । विगृहा शत्रून् कौन्तेय जेय: क्षितिपतिस्तदा
yadā svapakṣo balavān parapakṣas tathābalaḥ | vigṛhya śatrūn kaunteya jeyaḥ kṣitipatis tadā, mahābāho |
ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「クンティーの子よ、強き腕の者よ——己が陣営が強く、相手の陣営がそれに応じて弱いとき、王は敵に対して敵対を取り、競う王を征服せんと努めるべきである。ここにある倫理は、戦略的な自制だ。勝利が決定的で、しかも責任を負いうる条件が整うときにのみ争いを起こし、軽率や怒りだけで動いてはならぬ。」
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should initiate open conflict only when his own position is strong and the opponent is weak, aiming for a swift, decisive outcome; this frames warfare as a regulated instrument of rājadharma rather than an impulsive act.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a ‘Kaunteya’ and articulates a rule of political conduct: assess relative strength, and only then undertake vigraha (hostility/war) to subdue an opposing ruler.