Shloka 19
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
बेटा! धर्मको आगे रखकर या तो पराक्रम प्रकट कर अथवा उस गतिको प्राप्त हो जा, जो समस्त प्राणियोंके लिये निश्चित है, अन्यथा किसलिये जी रहा है? ।।
Vāyudeva uvāca: Vatsa! dharmam agre kṛtvā vā parākramaṁ prakaṭaya athavā tāṁ gatiṁ prāpnuhi yā sarva-prāṇināṁ niyatā; anyathā kimarthaṁ jīvasi? Iṣṭāpūrtaṁ hi te klība kīrtiś ca sakalā hatā; vicchinnaṁ bhoga-mūlaṁ te kim-nimittaṁ hi jīvasi?
ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ—“ପୁତ୍ର! ଧର୍ମକୁ ଅଗ୍ରେ ରଖି ବୀର୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କର, ନଚେତ୍ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀ ପାଇଁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଧ୍ରୁବ ଗତିକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେ। ନହେଲେ ତୁ କେଉଁ ନିମିତ୍ତରେ ଜୀବୁଛୁ? ହେ କ୍ଲୀବ! ତୋର ଇଷ୍ଟାପୂର୍ତ କର୍ମ ଓ ସମଗ୍ର କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ନଷ୍ଟ; ତୋର ଭୋଗର ମୂଳ ଛିନ୍ନ—ତେବେ ତୁ କାହିଁକି ଜୀବୁଛୁ?”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma must lead one’s choices: a warrior should either act with righteous courage or accept the inevitable end; living without honor, purpose, and moral resolve is condemned as empty.
Vāyudeva addresses a hesitant or dejected figure, sharply rebuking him for loss of courage and urging him to uphold dharma through valor; otherwise, he should accept death, since his merit, fame, and the basis of worldly enjoyment are said to be already destroyed.