Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 8
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
सो<ब्रवीत् सात्यकिं वीर धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम् । यूयं रक्षत राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्
so 'bravīt sātyakiṃ vīra dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam | yūyaṃ rakṣata rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
அப்போது அவர் வீரன் சாத்தியகியையும், பார்ஷதன் மகன் த்ருஷ்டத்யும்னனையும் நோக்கி—“நீங்கள் அனைவரும் தர்மாத்மா அரசன் யுதிஷ்டிரனைப் பாதுகாக்குங்கள்” என்று கூறினார்.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes kṣatriya-duty and ethical priority in war: safeguarding the righteous king (dharmātmā Yudhiṣṭhira) is presented as a collective responsibility, implying that the protection of dharma-centered leadership is itself a moral imperative.
In the midst of the Karṇa Parva battle account, a commander issues instructions to key Pāṇḍava warriors—Sātyaki and Dhṛṣṭadyumna—to focus on protecting King Yudhiṣṭhira, underscoring the strategic and moral importance of keeping the dharmic leader safe.