Shloka 3
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
ध्ृतराष्ट्र उवाच उत्सिक्ता: पाण्डवा नित्य॑ तेभ्योडसूये द्विजोत्तम । तत्र मे निश्चिततमं संधिविग्रहकारणम् । कणिक त्वं ममाचक्ष्व करिष्ये वचनं तव,धृतराष्ट्र बोले--द्विजश्रेष्ठ) पाण्डवोंकी दिनोंदिन उन्नति और सर्वत्र ख्याति हो रही है। इस कारण मैं उनसे डाह रखने लगा हूँ। कणिक! तुम भलीभाँति निश्चय करके बतलाओ, मुझे उनके साथ संधि करनी चाहिये या विग्रह? मैं तुम्हारी बात मानूँगा
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | utsiktāḥ pāṇḍavā nityaṃ tebhyo 'sūye dvijottama | tatra me niścitatamaṃ sandhi-vigraha-kāraṇam | kaṇika tvaṃ mamācakṣva kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O best of Brahmins, the Pāṇḍavas are steadily rising in power and reputation; because of that I have begun to envy them. Therefore, tell me with firm certainty what should be the decisive ground for my choice—should I make peace with them, or should I enter into hostility? Kaṇika, declare it to me; I will act according to your counsel.”
ध्ृतराष्ट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how envy (asūyā) can distort a ruler’s judgment, pushing him to frame decisions as mere strategy (peace vs. conflict) rather than as dharmic responsibility. It also shows the ethical weight of counsel: a king’s actions may follow an adviser’s words, so advice must be grounded in righteousness, not in jealousy or fear.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra confesses to the Brahmin counselor Kaṇika that the Pāṇḍavas’ growing success has made him jealous. He asks Kaṇika to decide and explain whether he should pursue reconciliation (sandhi) or hostility (vigraha) with them, promising to follow the advice given.