Shloka 29
ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्
Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief
युधिष्ठटिरेण संधिं हि यदि कुर्या मते तव
yudhiṣṭhireṇa sandhiṃ hi yadi kuryā mate tava
Jika, menurut nasihatmu, Yudhiṣṭhira benar-benar membuat perjanjian (mencari perdamaian), maka haluan tindakan akan beralih daripada pembalasan dendam kepada pengekangan diri—meletakkan beban pilihan pada dharma: sama ada kedamaian dapat dipeluk tanpa mengkhianati keadilan dan kewajipan yang tertanggung sesudah kezaliman yang amat berat.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic dilemma: whether making sandhi (peace) is truly righteous when weighed against justice, duty, and the moral consequences of past wrongdoing. It highlights that counsel must be tested against ethical responsibility, not merely expediency.
A conditional proposal is raised: if Yudhiṣṭhira, following the addressee’s advice, were to pursue a treaty, the discussion shifts to evaluating peace as a deliberate moral choice—setting the stage for reflection on governance, restraint, and the aftermath of conflict.