Shloka 42
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
हस्तिनापुरमें जो बहुत-से हाथीवान हैं तथा जो अन्धे और बूढ़े हैं, उन सबको मेरी कुशल बताकर अन्तमें मेरी ओरसे उनके भी आरोग्य आदिका समाचार पूछना ।।
hāstināpure ye bahavo hastivantaḥ santi tathā ye’ndhāḥ sthavirāś ca, tān sarvān mama kuśalaṃ nivedya ante mama taraphāt teṣām api ārogya-ādikaṃ vārtāṃ pṛccha. mā bhaiṣṭa duḥkhena kujīvitena; nūnaṃ kṛtaṃ paralokeṣu pāpam. nigṛhya śatrūn suhṛdo’nugṛhya vāsobhir annena ca vo bhariṣye; tathā tebhyaḥ āśvāsanaṃ dadan idaṃ mama sandeshaṃ śrāvaya.
Yudhiṣṭhira sagt: „In Hastināpura richte allen aus, dass es mir wohl ergeht — besonders den Elefantenpflegern sowie den Blinden und den Alten — und erkundige dich am Ende in meinem Namen auch nach ihrer Gesundheit und ihrem Wohlergehen. Sage ihnen, sie sollen sich nicht fürchten wegen ihres Leids oder weil sie zu einem elenden Leben gezwungen sind; gewiss ist dies das Reifen von Sünden aus früheren Geburten. Versichere ihnen: Schon bald werde ich die Feinde bezwingen und gefangen setzen, meinen wohlgesinnten Freunden Gunst erweisen und sie mit Speise und Kleidung erhalten.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse blends royal duty with karmic reflection: people should not collapse into fear when suffering arises, since hardship may be the fruition of past actions; meanwhile, a righteous leader must respond with compassion and concrete support—protecting the community, restraining aggressors, and ensuring basic welfare like food and clothing.
Yudhiṣṭhira sends a message to those in Hastināpura—especially vulnerable groups (the blind and the aged) and those connected with royal resources (elephant-keepers). He asks after their health, reassures them amid distress, and promises that he will soon subdue the enemies and then provide for his well-wishers with provisions.