Shloka 8
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
न सकामा: परे कार्या धर्ममेवाचरोत्तमम् । भ्रातरं धार्मिकं ज्येष्ठं को$तिवर्तितुमरहति
na sakāmāḥ pare kāryā dharmam evācarottamam | bhrātaraṃ dhārmikaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ ko 'tivartitum arhati, bhaiyā | śatrūṇāṃ kāmanāṃ saphalāṃ na karo; uttama dharmakā hī ācaraṇa karo | bhalā, apane dharmātmā jyeṣṭha bhrātākā apamāna kauna kara saktā hai? |
न सकामाः परे कार्या धर्ममेवाचरोत्तमम्। भ्रातरं धार्मिकं ज्येष्ठं कोऽतिवर्तितुमर्हति॥
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Act from dharma rather than desire, and do not enable an adversary’s aims; uphold righteous conduct and honor rightful familial hierarchy, especially the dharmic eldest brother.
In the Sabha Parva context of political tension and humiliation, Arjuna urges restraint and principled action: he counsels that one should not transgress against the eldest, righteous brother, nor behave in a way that grants success to enemies.