Shloka 55
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
यत्र धीमानवेक्षेत श्रेयांसं बहुभिगुणै: । साम्नैवार्थ ततो लिप्सेत् कर्म चास्मै प्रयोजयेत्,जहाँ बुद्धिमान् पुरुष शत्रुको अनेक गुणोंसे श्रेष्ठ देखे, वहाँ सामनीतिसे ही काम बनानेकी इच्छा करे और उसके लिये जो सन्धि आदि आवश्यक कर्तव्य हो, करे
yatra dhīmān avekṣeta śreyāṁsaṁ bahubhir guṇaiḥ | sāmnaivārthaṁ tato lipsēt karma cāsmai prayojayet ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kung saan nakikita ng marunong na ang iba ay nakahihigit sa maraming kabutihan, doon niya dapat hangaring maisakatuparan ang layon sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkasundo lamang; at para sa layuning iyon, gawin niya ang mga kinakailangang tungkulin—gaya ng paggawa ng kapayapaan o mga hakbang ng pakikipag-alyansa—na angkop sa kalagayan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
When facing someone superior in virtues and strength, a wise person should prioritize sāmā (conciliation) to achieve legitimate aims, and then perform the practical steps required for peace—such as treaty-making—rather than rushing into hostility.
Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of statecraft and ethical conduct: assessing relative merit and power, and choosing a non-violent, conciliatory strategy (sāma) with appropriate follow-through actions like sandhi, emphasizing restraint and prudence.