Shloka 18
कुम्भकर्णवधः — Kumbhakarṇa’s Fall and the Renewal of the Engagement
स एष शूरो नित्यममर्षणश्न धीमान् प्राज्ञ: सहदेव: पतिर्मे त्यजेत् प्राणान् प्रविशेद्धव्यवाहं न त्वेवैष व्याहरेद् धर्मबाहमम्
sa eṣa śūro nityam amarṣaṇaś ca dhīmān prājñaḥ sahadevaḥ patir me tyajet prāṇān praviśed dhavyavāhaṃ na tv evaiṣa vyāhared dharmabāhamam
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「この男は勇士である――恥辱を常に許さず、心は揺るがず、聡明にして賢い。わが夫サハデーヴァは、ダルマに背く言葉を口にするくらいなら、命を捨てて供犠の火に身を投じるであろう。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as non-negotiable: a truly wise and honourable person would accept even death rather than speak or act in a way that violates righteousness.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana praises Sahadeva’s character, portraying him as brave, sharp-minded, and unwavering in dharma—so steadfast that he would choose death by entering the sacrificial fire rather than utter an unrighteous statement.