Shloka 38
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
अलंकृता वस्त्रवत्य: सुगन्धा अबीभत्सा: सुखिता भोगवत्य: । लघु यासां दर्शनं वाक् च लघ्वी वेशस्त्रिय: कुशल तात पृच्छे:
alaṅkṛtā vastravatyaḥ sugandhā abībhatsāḥ sukhitā bhogavatyaḥ | laghu yāsāṃ darśanaṃ vāk ca laghvī veśastriyaḥ kuśala tāta pṛccheḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O lieber Sañjaya, ich erkundige mich auch nach dem Wohlergehen jener Frauen, die für Schmuck und Gewandung sorgen—Frauen von angenehmem Anblick und sanfter Rede; mit Geschmeide geschmückt, in feine Kleider gehüllt und von Duft umgeben; frei von abstoßendem Benehmen; die in Behagen leben und reichlich mit Mitteln des Genusses versehen sind. Frage auch nach ihnen.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, Yudhiṣṭhira maintains dhārmic conduct by inquiring after the welfare of all connected to the court, including service staff; ethical leadership includes concern for the well-being of every rank.
In the Udyoga Parva context of negotiations and impending war, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Sañjaya about the well-being of various people at the Kuru court; here he specifically asks about women responsible for dress and adornment who serve in the royal household.