Shloka 58
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
त्वया दत्तां न चेच्छेयं पृथिवीमखिलामहम् । त्वां तु युद्धे विनिर्जित्य भोक्तास्मि वसुधामिमाम्
tvayā dattāṃ na ceccheyaṃ pṛthivīm akhilām aham | tvāṃ tu yuddhe vinirjitya bhoktāsmi vasudhām imām ||
Yudhiṣṭhira declarou: «Nem mesmo a terra inteira desejo aceitar como dádiva tua. Só depois de te vencer na guerra é que desfrutarei e governarei esta terra.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule should be grounded in dharmic victory and rightful conduct, not in accepting a kingdom as a mere gift from an adversary; honor and moral clarity matter even amid war.
Yudhiṣṭhira responds to an offer or suggestion of receiving the earth without fighting, rejecting it and stating that he will accept sovereignty only after defeating the opponent in battle.