Shloka 36
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
एष ते परमो धर्म: सृष्टो धात्रा महात्मना | तं॑ कुरुष्व यथातथ्यं राजा भव महारथ
eṣa te paramo dharmaḥ sṛṣṭo dhātrā mahātmanā | taṁ kuruṣva yathātathyaṁ rājā bhava mahāratha ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Inilah dharma tertinggi bagimu, yang telah ditetapkan oleh Sang Pencipta Yang Agung. Maka laksanakanlah ia dengan roh yang sebenar. Wahai pahlawan kereta perang—jadilah raja yang sejati, perlihatkan keberanian dan perilaku yang layak bagi takhta.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges adherence to one’s highest dharma as divinely ordained—especially the ruler’s duty to embody true kingship through righteous action, courage, and proper conduct rather than mere title.
Sanjaya, narrating events to Dhritarashtra, frames the addressed warrior’s role in the war as a matter of ordained duty: he must act according to true dharma and demonstrate kingly valor and responsibility in the unfolding conflict.