Shloka 1
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १२३ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन--माजल बछ। जि चतुष्पञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीका सेमल-वृक्षसे प्रशंसापूर्वक प्रश्न युधिछिर उवाच बलिन: प्रत्यमित्रस्य नित्यमासन्नवर्तिन: । उपकारापकाराभ्यां समर्थस्योद्यतस्य च
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
balinaḥ pratyamitrasyā nityam āsannavartinaḥ |
upakārāpakārābhyāṃ samarthasyodyatasya ca ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, kung ang kaaway ay makapangyarihan, laging malapit, may kakayahang magbigay ng tulong at magdulot ng pinsala, at laging masikap at handang kumilos—kung ang isang taong mahina at mababa ang katayuan, dahil sa pagkahibang, ay nagyayabang at nagsasabi ng mga salitang di nararapat at sa gayon ay nag-uudyok ng pagkapoot; at ang malakas na kaaway, sa matinding galit, ay sumalakay upang bunutin at lipulin siya—paano dapat kumilos ang taong sinasalakay, na umaasa lamang sa kanyang munting lakas, sa harap ng mananalakay upang siya’y mapangalagaan?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-political dilemma: when a weaker person has foolishly provoked a stronger, nearby, capable enemy, survival depends not on bravado but on prudent conduct—measured speech, strategic restraint, and realistic assessment of power.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and policy, Yudhiṣṭhira poses a practical question (to Bhīṣma as teacher): how a weaker party should behave when a powerful adversary, angered by the weaker party’s improper boasting, launches an attack.