Shloka 78

Devanagari script

माद्रीपुत्रौ च वक्तव्यौ क्षत्रधर्मरतौ सदा । विक्रमेणार्जितान्‌ भोगान्‌ वृणीतं जीवितादपि,“गोविन्द! तुम सदा क्षत्रियधर्ममें तत्पर रहनेवाले माद्रीनन्दन नकुल-सहदेवसे भी कहना --पुत्रो! तुम प्राणोंकी बाजी लगाकर भी पराक्रमसे प्राप्त किये हुए भोगोंको ही ग्रहण करना

Transliteration

mādrīputrau ca vaktavyau kṣatradharmaratau sadā | vikrameṇārjitān bhogān vṛṇītaṃ jīvitād api ||

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਅਤੇ ਮਾਦਰੀ ਦੇ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਹਿਣਾ, ਜੋ ਸਦਾ ਖ਼ਤਰੀ ਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਤ ਹਨ: ਹੇ ਪੁੱਤਰੋ, ਆਪਣੇ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਨਾਲ ਜਿੱਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਭੋਗ ਅਤੇ ਹੱਕ—ਜਾਨ ਦੀ ਕ਼ੀਮਤ ‘ਤੇ ਵੀ—ਚੁਣੋ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਭਾਓ।

Word by Word

माद्रीपुत्रौthe two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva)

चand

वक्तव्यौto be addressed / should be told

क्षत्रधर्मरतौdevoted to kshatriya-duty

सदाalways

विक्रमेणby valor / by prowess

अर्जितान्won / acquired

भोगान्enjoyments, possessions

वृणीतम्choose (you two)! / accept (you two)!

जीवितात्than life

अपिeven

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mādrī

Nakula

Sahadeva

kṣatradharma

vikrama

bhoga

jīvita

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A kṣatriya should uphold honor and rightful gains earned through personal valor, valuing duty and courage even above personal safety; the verse urges steadfast commitment to warrior-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel and messaging, instructions are given to address Nakula and Sahadeva specifically, exhorting them to remain firm in kṣatriya conduct and to stand by what is won through heroic effort, even if it risks their lives.