Shloka 12
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 126 — Kṛṣṇa’s Indictment of Misrule and the Varuṇa Analogy (कृष्णवाक्यं–धर्मपाशदृष्टान्तः)
न चापि वयमुग्रेण कर्मणा वचनेन वा । प्रभ्रष्टा: प्रणमामेह भयादपि शतक्रतुम्,“हमलोग किसीके भयंकर कर्म अथवा भयानक वचनसे भयभीत हो क्षत्रियधर्मसे च्युत होकर साक्षात् इन्द्रके सामने भी नतमस्तक नहीं हो सकते
na cāpi vayam ugreṇa karmaṇā vacanena vā | prabhraṣṭāḥ praṇamāmeha bhayād api śatakratum ||
毗舍波耶那说道：“我们并非那种人：因畏惧他人凶猛的行径或可怖的言辞，便背离刹帝利之法，而在此俯首——即便出于恐惧——也不会向‘百祭主’释迦罗图（因陀罗）本人低头。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts steadfastness in kṣatriya-dharma: one should not abandon honor and duty out of fear—whether fear arises from violent actions or intimidating speech—even if the pressure comes from the highest authority (symbolized by Indra).
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and rising tensions, the speaker (through Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration) voices a defiant stance: they will not submit or abase themselves out of fear, emphasizing resolve and adherence to warrior ethics as conflict approaches.