Shloka 21
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
उस समय तुमने कुन्ती और माद्री दोनों माताओंमें समानताकी इच्छा रखकर अपने सगे भाई भीम और अर्जुनको छोड़ केवल नकुलको जीवित करना चाहा था ।।
dharma-rāja uvāca | us samaya tumne kuntī aur mādrī donoṃ mātāoṃ meṃ samānatā kī icchā rakhkar apne sage bhāī bhīma aur arjun ko choṛ ke kevala nakul ko jīvita karnā cāhā thā || ayaṃ śvā bhakta ity evaṃ tyakto devarathas tvayā | tasmāt svarge na te tulyaḥ kaścid asti narādhipaḥ ||
达摩罗阇说道：“那时你欲对两位母亲——昆蒂与摩德丽——一视同仁，便宁舍同母的毗摩与阿周那，只求独救那俱罗。又有人告你：‘此乃忠诚之犬’，你亦不弃。故而，噢，国王，在天界无人可与你比肩。”
धर्मरज उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is shown through impartial justice and steadfast compassion: Yudhiṣṭhira’s earlier choice to honor both mothers equally, and his refusal to abandon a faithful dog, exemplify integrity that does not bend for personal gain—even when heaven itself is at stake.
Dharmarāja recalls two decisive moments: (1) a prior test where Yudhiṣṭhira chose Nakula to live to maintain fairness between Kuntī and Mādrī, despite Bhīma and Arjuna being his full brothers; and (2) the climactic ‘dog episode,’ where Yudhiṣṭhira refuses to enter heaven if it requires abandoning the devoted dog. These acts establish his unmatched merit in heaven.