Shloka 3
दुष्ट मन््त्री ही जिसका सहायक हो, इसीलिये जो श्रेष्ठ परामर्शसे भ्रष्ट हो गया हो एवं राज्यसे जिसके भ्रष्ट हो जानेकी सम्भावना हो और जिसे अपनी उन्नतिका कोई श्रेष्ठ उपाय न दिखायी देता हो, उसके लिये क्या कर्तव्य है? ।। परचक्राभियातस्य परराष्ट्राणि मृदूनतः । विग्रहे वर्तमानस्य दुर्बलस्य बलीयसा,जो शत्रुसेनापर आक्रमण करके शत्रुके राज्यको रौंद रहा हो; इतनेहीमें कोई बलवान् राजा उसपर भी चढ़ाई कर दे तो उसके साथ युद्धमें लगे हुए उस दुर्बल राजाके लिये क्या आश्रय है?
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | duṣṭamantrī hi yasya sahāyakaḥ, tasmāt yaḥ śreṣṭha-parāmarśena bhraṣṭo bhavet, rājya-bhraṃśasya ca yasya sambhāvanā, svasyonnateś ca śreṣṭham upāyaṃ na paśyati—tasya kiṃ kartavyam? || paracakrābhiyātasya pararāṣṭrāṇi mṛdnataḥ | vigrahe vartamānasya durbalasya balīyasā—tasya kim āśrayaḥ? ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: If a king is supported by a wicked counsellor, and therefore has fallen away from sound counsel—so that the loss of his kingdom is likely, and he sees no noble means for his own advancement—what should such a man do? And again: when a ruler has marched against an enemy host and is trampling the enemy’s realm, but in the midst of that campaign a stronger king attacks him as well—what refuge is there for that weaker king who is already engaged in war?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rājadharma problem: a ruler’s strength depends on right counsel and prudent strategy. When misled by corrupt ministers and threatened with political collapse—especially amid multi-front war—the king must seek a sound refuge (āśraya) through wise policy: correcting counsel, securing alliances or protection, and choosing actions that preserve the realm and dharma rather than reckless expansion.
In Śānti Parva’s discourse on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira poses a practical question about a king in distress: first, a ruler ruined by bad advisers and facing possible loss of the kingdom; second, a weaker king campaigning against an enemy who is suddenly attacked by a stronger power. He asks what such a king should do and where he can find support.