Shloka 12
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
एष एव परो धर्मों राजर्षीणां युधिष्ठिर । समरे वा भवेन्मृत्युर्वने वा विधिपूर्वकम्
eṣa eva paro dharmo rājarṣīṇāṁ yudhiṣṭhira | samare vā bhaven mṛtyur vane vā vidhipūrvakam ||
毗舍波耶那说道：“坚战啊，这确是王仙之最高法：或死于战阵，或依仪轨而终于林野。两者皆以戒律与尽职之忠诚迎受其正终，皆被视为至上。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a rājarṣi, the supreme dharma is to meet death in a manner consistent with duty—either as a kṣatriya facing battle, or as a renunciant in the forest following prescribed discipline and rites. The emphasis is on integrity of conduct rather than the location of death.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira while discussing the standards of conduct for kings who turn toward ascetic ideals. He frames two legitimate, dharma-grounded ends for such rulers: heroic death in war or a rule-bound death in forest retirement.