Shloka 12
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
युध्यस्वैनं कुरुश्रेष्ठ पितरं युद्धदुर्मदम् । एवमेष हि ते प्रीतो भविष्यति न संशय:
yudhyasvainaṃ kuruśreṣṭha pitaraṃ yuddhadurmadam | evameṣa hi te prīto bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Bertarunglah dengannya, wahai yang terbaik antara kaum Kuru—ayahmu sendiri, yang mabuk oleh keangkuhan pertempuran. Dengan berbuat demikian, dia pasti akan berkenan kepadamu; tiada keraguan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames combat, even against a close relative, as a duty-bound act within the warrior code when the opponent seeks martial testing; meeting such a challenge can be an expression of honor that earns the elder’s approval.
Vaiśampāyana narrates an instruction to a Kuru hero to engage in battle with his own father, described as battle-intoxicated; the assurance is that accepting the fight will please the father.