Shloka 14
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
न चैनमभिहन्तुं ते शकनुवन्ति बलक्षये | सम्यग्वृत्तो हि राजा स धर्मनित्यो युधिष्ठिर
na cainam abhihantuṃ te śakanuvanti balakṣaye | samyagvṛtto hi rājā sa dharmanityo yudhiṣṭhira ||
व्यास उवाच— बलक्षयेऽपि तेऽभिहन्तुं न शेकुः; सम्यग्वृत्तो हि स राजा धर्मनित्यः, युधिष्ठिर॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethic that steadfast dharma and upright conduct confer a kind of inviolability: moral integrity becomes a source of strength that can thwart even hostile force when ordinary power wanes.
Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, describing a situation where attackers, despite the depletion of their military strength, fail to kill a certain king—because that king is consistently devoted to dharma and exemplary in conduct.