Shloka 12
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
भीतं भक्त नान्यदस्तीति चार्त॑ प्राप्तं क्षीणं रक्षणे प्राणलिप्सुम् । प्राणत्यागादप्यहं नैव मोक्तुं यतेयं वै नित्यमेतद् व्रतं मे
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | bhītaṃ bhaktaṃ nānyad astīti cārtaṃ prāptaṃ kṣīṇaṃ rakṣaṇe prāṇalipsum | prāṇatyāgād apy ahaṃ naiva moktuṃ yateyaṃ vai nityam etad vrataṃ me ||
ಭಯಗೊಂಡು, ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ‘ನಿನ್ನ ಹೊರತು ನನಗೆ ಬೇರೆ ಆಶ್ರಯವಿಲ್ಲ’ ಎಂದು ಆರ್ತವಾಗಿ ಶರಣಾದವನು, ದುರ್ಬಲನಾಗಿ ತನ್ನನ್ನು ತಾನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರದವನು, ಜೀವ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಯಸುವವನು—ಅಂಥವನನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಾಣ ತ್ಯಾಗವಾದರೂ ನಾನು ಬಿಡಲಾರೆ. ಇದೇ ನನ್ನ ನಿತ್ಯ ವ್ರತ.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to protect those who seek refuge—especially the fearful, weak, and distressed—even when doing so entails personal risk. The verse frames protection of the suppliant as a lifelong vow (vrata), not a situational choice.
In the Mahāprasthānika context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates his unwavering ethical commitment: anyone who approaches him in distress, declaring there is no other refuge, must not be abandoned. It underscores his identity as a dharmic king even at the end of his journey.