Shloka 27
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहं पुरा प्राणसम: सखा । इति वक्ष्यामि राजानं यदि मां सोडनुयोक्ष्यते,यदि वे राजा मुझसे पूछेंगे कि आप कौन हैं, तो मैं उन्हें बताऊँगा कि मैं पहले महाराज युधिष्ठिरका प्राणोंके समान प्रिय सखा था
āsaṃ yudhiṣṭhirasya ahaṃ purā prāṇasamaḥ sakhā | iti vakṣyāmi rājānaṃ yadi māṃ so 'nuyoṣyate ||
“Jika raja bertanya siapakah aku, akan kukatakan kepadanya: dahulu aku sahabat Yudhiṣṭhira, dikasihi olehnya seperti nyawanya sendiri.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights truthful speech guided by discretion: one should be honest about one’s identity and relationships, yet speak in a way appropriate to circumstance, especially when safety and duty are at stake.
The speaker explains how he will answer if questioned by the king: he will identify himself as someone who was formerly Yudhiṣṭhira’s extremely dear friend, indicating a careful plan for self-presentation during a sensitive period.