Shloka 18
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
न च राजा तथाकार्षीत् कालपर्यायधर्मवित् । परंतु धर्मात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिर कालके उलट-फेरके अनुसार जो धर्म या कर्तव्य प्राप्त था उसे जानते थे; अतः उन्होंने प्रजाके कथनानुसार कार्य नहीं किया ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Na ca rājā tathākārṣīt kālaparyāyadharmavit | Parantu dharmātmā rājā Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kālaparyāyānusāreṇa yaḥ dharmo vā kartavyaṃ prāptaṃ tad avet; ataḥ sa prajāvacanānusāraṃ karma na cakāra || Tato ’numānya dharmātmā paurajānapadaṃ janam |
ໄວສັມປາຍະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ: ແຕ່ພຣະຣາຊາບໍ່ໄດ້ເຮັດຕາມນັ້ນ ເພາະພຣະອົງເຂົ້າໃຈທຳມະແຫ່ງໜ້າທີ່ທີ່ປ່ຽນໄປຕາມການໝຸນຜັນຂອງກາລະແລະສະພາບການ. ພຣະຣາຊາຜູ້ທຳມະ ຢຸທິສຖິຣະ ຮູ້ວ່າ ຕາມການຜັນຜວນຂອງເວລາ ທຳມະ—ໜ້າທີ່—ໃດໄດ້ມາຮອດພຣະອົງ; ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ພຣະອົງຈຶ່ງບໍ່ໄດ້ເຮັດຕາມທີ່ປະຊາຊົນວິງວອນ. ແລ້ວພຣະອົງຜູ້ທຳມະ ໄດ້ຮັບຮູ້ແລະປະຄອງໃຈຊາວເມືອງແລະຊາວຊົນນະບົດຢ່າງສົມຄວນ…
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not a fixed rule applied mechanically; it must be discerned according to kāla (time) and paryāya (changing circumstance). A righteous ruler may respectfully hear the people yet choose a course aligned with the higher, situational duty.
As the Mahāprasthāna (great departure) unfolds, the people urge the king toward a certain action, but Yudhiṣṭhira—knowing the duty appropriate to the present turn of events—does not comply. He then acknowledges the citizens and countryfolk, indicating a respectful but firm resolve.