Shloka 3
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
आत्मनो बलमास्थाय कथं वर्तेत मानव: । आगच्छतो>तिक्रुद्धस्य तस्योद्धरणकाम्यया
ātmano balam āsthāya kathaṁ varteta mānavaḥ | āgacchato 'tikruddhasya tasyoddharaṇakāmyayā ||
尤迪施提罗问道：“人若仅凭自身之力，当如何行事？当那远胜于己的敌人——常在近旁，能助亦能害，且恒常勤勉——因其愚妄的夸口而被激怒，如今挟极怒而来，欲将其连根拔起；那么，何种行止方能护佑被攻之人？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question about practical ethics: when one has foolishly provoked a much stronger adversary, mere bravado is useless; one must adopt conduct grounded in realistic self-assessment, restraint, and protective strategy rather than pride.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira consults Bhīṣma on righteous conduct and policy. Here he asks how a weaker person should behave when a powerful, nearby, capable enemy—angered by the weaker person’s improper words—attacks with the intent to destroy him.