उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय २५: संजयदूतवाक्यम्
Sañjaya’s Envoy-Speech on Peace
स्वयं राजा विषमस्थ: परेषु सामस्थ्यमन्विच्छति तन्न साधु । यथा<55त्मन: पश्यति वृत्तमेव तथा परेषामपि सो भ्युपैतु
svayaṁ rājā viṣamasthaḥ pareṣu sāmasthyam anvicchati tan na sādhu | yathātmanaḥ paśyati vṛttam eva tathā pareṣām api so 'bhyupaitu ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—রাজা নিজে অসাম্য আচরণে দাঁড়িয়ে অন্যদের মধ্যে সাম্য খোঁজেন; এটি শোভন নয়। তিনি যেমন নিজের আচরণ বিচার করেন, তেমনই অন্যদের আচরণও বিচার করুন।
संजय उवाच
A ruler (or anyone) must apply the same standard to oneself and to others. Seeking fairness from others while acting unfairly oneself is ethically improper; true dharma requires impartiality and consistent judgment.
Sañjaya comments critically on King Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s stance: the king is implicated in unequal, biased conduct, yet expects equitable behavior from others. Sañjaya urges him to recognize others’ actions with the same lens he uses for his own.