Shloka 24
Gaṅgādvāra-tīrtha, Ulūpī-saṃvāda, and Arjuna’s Dharma-Deliberation (गङ्गाद्वार-तीर्थम्, उलूपी-संवादः)
घतयाट्र उवाच भ्रातृभि: सह कौन्तेय निबोध गदतो मम । (पाण्डुना वर्धितं राज्यं पाण्डुना पालितं जगत् ।। शासनान्मम कौन्तेय मम भ्राता महाबल: । कृतवान् दुष्करं कर्म नित्यमेव विशाम्पते ।। तस्मात् त्वमपि कौन्तेय शासन कुरु मा चिरम् ।। मम पुत्रा दुरात्मानो दर्पहिंकारसंयुता: । शासनं न करिष्यन्ति मम नित्यं युधिष्ठिर ।। स्वकार्यनिरतैर्नित्यमवलिप्तैर्दुरात्मभि: ।) पुनर्वो विग्रहो मा भूत् खाण्डवप्रस्थमाविश,धृतराष्ट्र बोले--कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! मैं जो कुछ कह रहा हूँ, उसे अपने भाइयोंसहित ध्यान देकर सुनो। कुन्तीनन्दन! मेरी आज्ञासे पाण्डुने इस राज्यको बढ़ाया और पाण्डुने ही जगत्का पालन किया। मेरे भाई पाण्डु बड़े बलवान् थे। राजन! मेरे कहनेसे सदा ही दुष्कर कार्य किया करते थे। कुन्तीकुमार! तुम भी यथासम्भव शीघ्र मेरी आज्ञाका पालन करो, विलम्ब न करो। मेरे दुरात्मा पुत्र दर्प और अहंकारसे भरे हुए हैं। युधिष्ठिर! वे सदा मेरी आज्ञाका पालन नहीं करेंगे। अपने स्वार्थसाधनमें लगे हुए उन बलाभिमानी दुरात्माओंके साथ तुम्हारा फिर कोई झगड़ा न खड़ा हो जाय, इसलिये तुम खाण्डवप्रस्थमें निवास करो
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca—bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kaunteya nibodha gadato mama | pāṇḍunā vardhitaṃ rājyaṃ pāṇḍunā pālitaṃ jagat || śāsanān mama kaunteya mama bhrātā mahābalaḥ | kṛtavān duṣkaraṃ karma nityam eva viśāmpate || tasmāt tvam api kaunteya śāsanaṃ kuru mā ciram || mama putrā durātmāno darpa-hiṅkāra-saṃyutāḥ | śāsanaṃ na kariṣyanti mama nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira || svakārya-niratair nityam avaliptair durātmabhiḥ | punar vo vigraho mā bhūt | khāṇḍavaprastham āviśa ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O son of Kuntī, listen carefully, together with your brothers, to what I say. This kingdom was expanded by Pāṇḍu, and by Pāṇḍu the world was protected. My mighty brother, at my command, would constantly undertake even difficult tasks, O lord of the people. Therefore you too, O son of Kuntī, carry out my directive without delay. My sons are wicked, filled with pride and arrogance; O Yudhiṣṭhira, they will not always obey my authority. So that no fresh quarrel may arise between you and those self-seeking, insolent, evil-minded men, go and dwell in Khāṇḍavaprastha.”
घतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames a pragmatic ethic of governance: recognize the volatility created by pride and self-interest, and prevent renewed conflict through timely, lawful action. It also underscores the ideal of kingship as protection of the realm and the moral weight of obeying legitimate directives when they serve peace.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (with his brothers) and urges him to comply quickly with the royal order to reside in Khāṇḍavaprastha. He praises Pāṇḍu’s past service and warns that his own sons, driven by arrogance, may not remain obedient—so separation is advised to avert another dispute.