Shloka 28
Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris
Udyoga-parva 94
संयुगे वै महाराज दृश्यते सुमहान् क्षय: । क्षये चोभयतो राजन् कं धर्ममनुपश्यसि
saṁyuge vai mahārāja dṛśyate sumahān kṣayaḥ | kṣaye cobhayato rājan kaṁ dharmam anupaśyasi, mahārāja ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: “Ó grande rei, na batalha vê-se apenas uma destruição imensa. E quando tal destruição recai sobre ambos os lados, ó rei — que dharma discernes em provocar a ruína das duas partes, ó grande rei?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presses a moral challenge: if war predictably produces massive loss and mutual ruin, one must justify it by a clear vision of dharma; otherwise, the claim of righteousness is suspect.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king, emphasizing that battle results in great slaughter and asking what righteous principle can be seen in causing destruction to both sides—framing the ethical tension surrounding the impending conflict.