Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
सदा च प्रातरुत्थाय कृतजप्य: शुचिर्न॑प:
sadā ca prātar utthāya kṛtajapyaḥ śucir nṛpaḥ | viparīta-kṛc ca me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “A king should always rise early in the morning, remain pure, and complete his prescribed recitations. A man who acts contrary to rightful conduct becomes my enemy; but one who lives under discipline and obedience becomes my well-wisher.” In context, Yudhiṣṭhira—known for compassion—repeatedly reminded his brothers and ministers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra was worthy of honor for them; whoever followed Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s commands was to be regarded as Yudhiṣṭhira’s friend, while one who opposed them would be treated as an offender liable to punishment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links righteous kingship with personal discipline (rising early, purity, japa) and with ethical governance: loyalty to rightful authority is treated as friendship, while willful contrariness to dharmic command is treated as enmity and becomes liable to royal punishment (daṇḍa).
In the Āśramavāsika context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to honor Dhṛtarāṣṭra as a venerable elder; those who comply with Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s directives are counted as Yudhiṣṭhira’s allies, and those who oppose are treated as offenders.