Shloka 13
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
मास्तं गमस्त्वं कृपणो विश्रूयस्व स्वकर्मणा । मा मध्ये मा जघन्ये त्वं माधो भूस्तिष्ठ गर्जित:
māstaṃ gamas tvaṃ kṛpaṇo viśrūyasva svakarmaṇā | mā madhye mā jaghanye tvaṃ mādhō bhūs tiṣṭha garjitaḥ ||
“Huwag kang malugmok sa kawalang-pag-asa; huwag kang panghinaan ng loob. Kamtin mo ang katanyagan sa sarili mong mga gawang may tapang. Huwag kang kumapit sa asal na katamtaman lamang, hamak, o kahiya-hiya; sa halip, tumindig kang matatag sa larangan ng digmaan at umungal na parang leon.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges steadfast courage: do not collapse into despair or adopt an ignoble, defeatist mindset; instead, uphold one’s dharma through personal effort and valor, earning rightful renown.
Vāyudeva addresses a warrior (vocatively called “Mādha”), exhorting him to reject dejection and mediocrity and to stand resolute in the war context, proclaiming strength with a lion-like roar.