Shloka 70
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
यदि वै वक्ष्यसि मृषा प्रह्लादाथ न वक्ष्यसि । शतधा ते शिरो वज्री वज्नेण प्रहरिष्पति
yadi vai vakṣyasi mṛṣā prahlādātha na vakṣyasi | śatadhā te śiro vajrī vajreṇa prahariṣyati ||
यदि वै वक्ष्यसि मृषा प्रह्लादाथ न वक्ष्यसि। शतधा ते शिरो वज्री वज्रेण प्रहरिष्यति॥
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthful, responsible speech is a dharmic obligation: lying is condemned, and even withholding an answer (silence used as evasion) is treated as culpable when one is duty-bound to speak. The verse uses the threat of Indra’s vajra to underscore the seriousness of violating satya.
Vidura addresses Prahlāda in a questioning context and issues a stern warning: if Prahlāda lies in his reply or refuses to reply, Indra (Vajrī) will punish him by striking with the vajra, metaphorically emphasizing the peril of falsehood or evasive silence.