Shloka 19
स्त्रीपर्व — अध्याय १५: गान्धारी-युधिष्ठिर-संवादः
Gandhārī’s Confrontation and Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira
क्षत्रधर्माच्च्युतो राज्ञि भवेयं शाश्वती: समा: । प्रतिज्ञां तामनिस्तीर्य ततस्तत् कृतवानहम्,रानीजी! यदि मैं उस प्रतिज्ञाको पूर्ण न करता तो सदाके लिये क्षत्रियधर्मसे गिर जाता, इसलिये मैंने यह काम किया था
kṣatradharmāccyuto rājñi bhaveyaṃ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | pratijñāṃ tāmanistīrya tatastat kṛtavān aham ||
ରାଣୀ! ସେ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା ପୂରଣ ନ କରିଥାନ୍ତି ତେବେ ମୁଁ ଅନନ୍ତ ବର୍ଷ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ କ୍ଷତ୍ରଧର୍ମରୁ ଚ୍ୟୁତ ହୋଇଯାଇଥାନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ସେ କର୍ମ କରିଥିଲି।
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya’s ethical identity is bound to steadfastly fulfilling solemn vows; failing to keep one’s pledged word is portrayed as a fall from dharma with long-lasting moral consequence.
In the grief-filled context of the Strī Parva, Bhīma addresses the queen and justifies a harsh wartime act by appealing to kṣatriya-duty: he acted because he had made a vow and believed abandoning it would mean a grave lapse from dharma.