Shloka 13
Sahadeva on Attachment (mamatā), ‘mameti/na mameti’, and the Middle Path of Conduct
तथ्यं वा यदि वातथ्यं यन्मयैतत् प्रभाषितम् । तद् विद्धि पृथिवीपाल भक््त्या भरतसत्तम,भरतवंशभूषण भूपाल! मैंने जो कुछ भी कहा है, वह यथार्थ हो या अयथार्थ, आपके प्रति भक्ति होनेके कारण ही ये बातें मेरे मुँउसे निकली हैं, यह आप अच्छी तरह समझ लें इति श्रीमहाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वणि सहदेववाक्ये त्रयोदशो 5ध्याय:
tathyaṃ vā yadi vātathyaṃ yanmayaitat prabhāṣitam | tad viddhi pṛthivīpāla bhaktyā bharatasattama ||
Ob das, was ich gesprochen habe, wahr ist, oder selbst wenn es nicht wahr sein sollte—wisse dies, o Beschützer der Erde, o Bester der Bharatas: Diese Worte sind nur aus Hingabe zu dir meinem Mund entströmt.
सहदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when counsel may be imperfect, the speaker emphasizes intention: speech offered from devotion and loyalty should be understood in that ethical light, highlighting humility and sincerity in advising a ruler.
Sahadeva addresses a king (a Bharata/Kuru leader), qualifying his prior statements: whether they prove true or not, they were spoken out of devotion, urging the ruler to recognize the motive behind the counsel.