Shloka 64
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
तन्मात्रमपि तन्महां न ददाति पुरा भवान् | स कथं पृथिवीमेतां प्रददासि विशाम्पते
tanmātram api tan mahān na dadāti purā bhavān | sa kathaṁ pṛthivīm etāṁ pradadāsi viśāmpate ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Dahulu, walaupun engkau begitu agung, engkau tidak mengurniakan kepadaku walau sebesar itu—sekecil mana pun bahagiannya. Wahai tuan rakyat, bagaimana pula hari ini engkau menawarkan untuk memberikan seluruh bumi ini?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical scrutiny of sudden generosity after prior refusal: true righteousness in kingship is measured by consistent justice and fair dealing, not by dramatic offers made under changed circumstances.
Yudhiṣṭhira challenges a ruler’s reversal: earlier he would not concede even a tiny share, yet now he proposes granting the whole earth. The question exposes the moral and political tension behind such a change of stance.