Shloka 33
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
कच्चित् पुत्रा जीवपुत्रा: सुसम्यग् वर्तन्ते वो वृत्तिमनृशंसरूपा: । इति स्मोक््त्वा संजय ब्रूहि पश्चा- दजातशत्रुः कुशली सपुत्र:
kaccit putrā jīvaputrāḥ susamyag vartante vo vṛttim anṛśaṃsarūpāḥ | iti smoktva saṃjaya brūhi paścād ajātaśatruḥ kuśalī saputraḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Sañjaya, frage die ehrwürdigen alten Frauen: ‚Mütter, behandeln euch eure Söhne recht? Ist in ihnen irgendeine Härte oder Grausamkeit aufgekommen? Und seid ihr alle mit langlebigen Söhnen gesegnet?‘ Nachdem du dies gesagt hast, berichte anschließend, dass Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) wohlbehalten ist, zusammen mit seinen Söhnen.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, dharma is shown through concern for elders and the moral conduct of the young: sons should treat mothers respectfully and remain free from cruelty (anṛśaṃsa). A righteous leader also communicates reassurance and welfare, not merely strategy.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Sañjaya to convey a message to the senior women of the Kuru household: inquire about their well-being and whether their sons behave properly and compassionately, and then report that Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru) is himself safe and well with his sons.