Shloka 8
संवादे परुषाण्याहुर्युधिष्ठिर नराधमा: । प्रत्याहुर्मध्यमास्त्वेतेडनुक्ता: परुषमुत्तरम्
saṃvāde paruṣāṇy āhur yudhiṣṭhira narādhamāḥ | pratyāhur madhyamās tv ete anuktāḥ paruṣam uttaram ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Sa karaniwang usapan, ang pinakahamak ay yaong unang bumibigkas ng mabagsik na salita. Ang hindi nagsisimula sa mabagsik na pananalita ngunit sumasagot nang mabagsik kapag napukaw, sila ang nasa gitnang uri. Ngunit ang matatag at tunay na marangal ay hindi kailanman nagpapakawala ng salitang marahas at nakapipinsala—magsalita man nang mabagsik ang iba sa kanila o hindi.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks people by their relationship to harsh speech: the worst initiate cruelty in words, the middling retaliate only when provoked, and the truly noble maintain restraint and avoid harmful speech regardless of others’ behavior.
In the Sabha Parva’s ethical discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a standard of conduct centered on vāg-dharma (righteous speech), emphasizing self-mastery and non-harm in dialogue.