Shloka 9
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
पुरोहित धृतराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञ- स्तथा55चायनित्विजो ये च तस्य । तैश्न त्वं तात सहितैर्य थाई संगच्छेथा: कुशलेनैव सूत
purohitaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rājñas tathācāryān ṛtvijo ye ca tasya | taiś ca tvaṃ tāta sahitair yathā saṃgacchethāḥ kuśalenāiva sūta tāta saṃjaya |
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O lieber Saṃjaya, Wagenlenker! Wenn du dem Hauspriester des Königs Dhṛtarāṣṭra begegnest, seinen Lehrern und den Opferpriestern, die ihm dienen, so tritt ihnen mit Anstand und Wohlwollen entgegen. In unserem Namen grüße sie, indem du allein nach ihrem Wohlergehen fragst—damit selbst im Aufsteigen des Konflikts die Höflichkeiten des Dharma und die ehrerbietige Rede nicht aufgegeben werden.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when hostility is imminent, one should uphold dharma through respectful conduct and restrained speech—beginning with courteous inquiry into others’ welfare, especially toward elders and religious functionaries.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Saṃjaya on proper etiquette when meeting Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s priestly and teaching circle: Saṃjaya should greet them on the Pāṇḍavas’ behalf by asking after their well-being, maintaining decorum amid tense negotiations.