Shloka 8
Chapter 15: Counsel on Initiative vs. Renunciation in the Rajasuya Project (सभापर्व, अध्याय १५)
अहं हि तव दुर्धर्ष भुजवीर्याश्रय: प्रभो । नात्मानं बलिनं मन्ये त्वयि तस्माद् विशड्किते
ahaṃ hi tava durdharṣa bhujavīryāśrayaḥ prabho | nātmānaṃ balinaṃ manye tvayi tasmād viśaṅkite ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai tuanku, wahai yang tidak dapat ditundukkan, aku bersandar pada kekuatan lenganmu. Oleh sebab engkau sendiri pun berjaga-jaga, aku sama sekali tidak menganggap diriku kuat di hadapannya.”
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent humility in leadership: recognizing one’s limits, relying on capable allies, and treating a formidable opponent with caution rather than arrogance.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a powerful lord (prabhu), stating that he depends on that person’s martial strength; since even that person is wary, Yudhiṣṭhira does not regard himself as strong enough to face the threat alone.