Shloka 57
Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa
Resolve for the Mace Duel
सर्वे भवन्तो धर्मज्ञा: सर्वे शूरास्तनुत्यज: । वास्तवमें क्षत्रियधर्म बड़ा ही क्रूर, किसीकी भी अपेक्षा न रखनेवाला तथा अत्यन्त निर्दय है; अन्यथा तुम सब लोग धर्मज्ञ, शूरवीर तथा युद्धमें शरीरका विसर्जन करनेको उद्यत रहनेवाले होकर भी उस असहाय-अवस्थामें अभिमन्युका वध कैसे कर सकते थे ।।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | sarve bhavanto dharmajñāḥ sarve śūrās tanutyajaḥ | vāstavameṃ kṣatriyadharmo baḍā hī krūraḥ, kisīkī bhī apekṣā na rakhanevālā tathā atyanta nirdaya hai; anyathā tum sab log dharmajña, śūravīra tathā yuddhameṃ śarīraka visargana karaneko udyata rahanevāle hokar bhī usa asahāya-avasthāmeṃ abhimanyukā vadha kaise kara sakate the || 563 || nyāyena yudhyatāṃ proktā śakralokagatiḥ parā
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kayong lahat ay mga nakakabatid ng dharma; kayong lahat ay mga bayani, handang ihandog ang katawan sa digmaan. Ngunit sa katotohanan, ang batas ng kṣatriya ay lubhang malupit—walang pagkakautang-kanino man at walang awa sa mga hinihingi nito. Kung hindi, paano ninyo—na may alam sa dharma at matatapang, laging handang mamatay sa labanan—nagawa pang patayin si Abhimanyu nang siya’y nasa kalagayang walang magawa? Sa mga lumalaban ayon sa katarungan, sinasabing ang pinakamataas na hantungan ay ang daigdig ni Śakra (Indra).”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within kṣatriya duty, righteous warfare (nyāya) is the ethical standard; violating fairness—such as killing a warrior in a helpless state—stands condemned, and only just fighting is praised as leading to the highest reward (Indra’s world).
Yudhiṣṭhira rebukes the opposing warriors for Abhimanyu’s death, arguing that if they truly were dharma-knowing heroes, they would not have killed him when he was vulnerable; he contrasts this with the ideal of fighting justly, which is said to earn heavenly attainment.