Shloka 19
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
ते चेदिमे कौरवाणामुपाय- मवगच्छेयुरवधेनैव पार्था: । धर्मत्राणं पुण्यमेषां कृतं स्था- दार्ये वृत्ते भीमसेनं निगृहा
te ced ime kauravāṇām upāyam avagaccheyur avadhenaiva pārthāḥ | dharmatrāṇaṁ puṇyam eṣāṁ kṛtaṁ sthād ārye vṛtte bhīmasenaṁ nigṛhya ||
Vāyu disse: “Se estes Pārthas descobrirem um meio de lidar com os Kauravas sem mortandade, então—contendo Bhīmasena e mantendo-o firme na conduta nobre praticada pelos justos—realizarão um ato meritório: a salvaguarda do dharma. Compreende-o bem.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid an inevitable political conflict, the highest merit lies in protecting dharma through self-restraint—especially restraining wrath and violence—if a just outcome can be achieved without slaughter.
Vāyudeva advises that if the Pāṇḍavas can find a way to secure their aims regarding the Kauravas without killing, they should do so; this requires checking Bhīma’s fierce impulse and keeping him aligned with noble, righteous conduct.