Shloka 68
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 71 — Kṣatra-dharma Counsel, Public Legitimacy, and Mobilization
नच त्यक्तुं तदिच्छामो न चेच्छाम: कुलक्षयम् | अत्र या प्रणिपातेन शान्ति: सैव गरीयसी
na ca tyaktuṃ tad icchāmo na cechāmaḥ kulakṣayam | atra yā praṇipātena śāntiḥ saiva garīyasī ||
యుధిష్ఠిరుడు అన్నాడు— ఆ న్యాయమైన హక్కును మేము వదలదలచుకోము; మా వంశనాశాన్ని కూడా కోరము. ఈ విషయంలో వినయపూర్వక నమస్కారంతో, గౌరవభరిత సమాధానంతో పొందే శాంతియే శ్రేష్ఠం.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes peace and the prevention of clan-destruction over pride: even when one has a rightful claim, reconciliation achieved through humility and respectful negotiation is ethically superior to a victory that costs the family’s survival.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a principled stance: he does not want to relinquish what is due, yet he also refuses to seek outcomes that lead to kulakṣaya. Therefore he endorses peace pursued through praṇipāta—deferential, conciliatory diplomacy.