Shloka 12
Book 3 (Āraṇyaka-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Alliance Gathering; Arjuna’s Praise of Keśava; Draupadī’s Duḥkha-nivedana; Assurances and Vows
न चेत् स मम राजेन्द्र गृह्लीयान्मधुंर वच: । पथ्यं च भरतश्रेष्ठ निगृह्नीयां बलेन तम्,राजेन्द्र! भरतश्रेष्ठ! यदि वे मेरे मधुर एवं हितकर वचनको सुनकर उसे न मानते तो मैं उन्हें बलपूर्वक रोक देता
na cet sa mama rājendra gṛhlīyān madhuraṃ vacaḥ | pathyaṃ ca bharataśreṣṭha nigṛhnīyāṃ balena tam, rājendra! bharataśreṣṭha! |
Vāyu disse: “Ó rei, o melhor dos Bhāratas—se ele não aceitasse minhas palavras brandas, palavras doces e ao mesmo tempo salutares, então, para o seu próprio bem, eu o conteria pela força. Quando se recusa o conselho que protege o dharma, estou pronto a impor a contenção para que o dano não nasça do impulso sem freio.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wholesome counsel should be accepted even when it is difficult; if gentle guidance fails, restraint may be justified as a last resort to prevent greater harm and protect dharma.
Vāyudeva addresses a king (called rājendra, bharataśreṣṭha), stating that if the person in question refuses his sweet but beneficial advice, he would forcibly restrain him—emphasizing the priority of preventing wrongdoing over mere persuasion.