Shloka 34
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
युद्धयस्व राजधर्मेण मा निमज्जी: पितामहान् । मा गम: क्षीणपुण्यस्त्वं सानुज: पापिकां गतिम्,अतः तुम राजधर्मके अनुसार युद्ध करो। कायर बनकर अपने बाप-दादोंका नाम मत डुबाओ और भाइयोंसहित पुण्यसे वंचित होकर पापमयी गतिको न प्राप्त होओ
yudhyasva rājadharmeṇa mā nimajjīḥ pitāmahān | mā gamaḥ kṣīṇapuṇyas tvaṃ sānujaḥ pāpikāṃ gatim ||
Vāyu berkata: “Berperanglah menurut rājadharma, dharma seorang raja. Jangan tenggelam dalam kepengecutan hingga mencemarkan nama leluhurmu. Jangan, bersama saudara-saudaramu, jatuh ke pengakhiran yang berdosa, setelah kehilangan pahala kebajikan.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should uphold rājadharma—especially a kṣatriya’s obligation to protect justice and honor—by acting with courage and responsibility. Cowardice is portrayed not merely as personal weakness but as a moral failure that stains ancestral reputation and leads to loss of merit and a sinful destiny.
Vāyudeva addresses a warrior-king figure, urging him to enter battle according to the rightful code of kingship. The speech frames the coming conflict as a dharmic obligation and warns that retreat would disgrace the lineage and bring spiritual and ethical downfall for him and his brothers.