Shloka 1
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
अपन का बछ। ] अतडणऑफा<ज एकोनचत्वारिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: शत्रुसे सदा सावधान रहनेके विषयमें राजा ब्रद्म॒दत्त और पूजनी चिड़ियाका संवाद युधिछिर उवाच उक्तो मन्त्रो महाबाहों विश्वासो नास्ति शत्रुषु । कथं हि राजा वर्तेत यदि सर्वत्र नाश्वसेत्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ukto mantro mahābāho viśvāso nāsti śatruṣu | kathaṃ hi rājā varteta yadi sarvatra nāśvaset ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O mighty-armed one, the counsel has been stated: one should place no trust in enemies. Yet how is a king to conduct himself if he cannot feel secure anywhere?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a rājadharma dilemma: political prudence warns against trusting enemies, yet a ruler must still function effectively. It introduces the need for balanced vigilance—governance requires caution without paralysis.
Yudhiṣṭhira responds to prior advice about never trusting enemies and asks how a king can practically rule if he must remain wary in every place and circumstance, setting up further instruction through exempla and dialogue.