Shloka 1
धृतराष्ट्र-सेवा, राज्य-कार्य-विभागः
Service to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Allocation of State Duties
अकाल एकचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: राजा युधिष्ठिरका धृतराष्ट्रके अधीन रहकर राज्यकी व्यवस्थाके लिये भाइयों तथा अन्य लोगोंको विभिन्न कार्योंपर नियुक्त करना वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रकृतीनां च तद् वाक््यं देशकालोपबंंहितम् । श्र॒ुत्वा युधिष्ठिरो राजा चोत्तरं प्रत्यभाषत
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: prakṛtīnāṃ ca tad vākyaṃ deśa-kālopabṛṃhitam | śrutvā yudhiṣṭhiro rājā cottaraṃ pratyabhāṣata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard the counsel of the king’s ministers and other constituents—advice shaped to suit the place and the time—King Yudhiṣṭhira replied with an answer. The scene frames governance as a dharmic responsibility: wise rule begins by listening to context-sensitive counsel before speaking or acting.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good governance is dharmic when it is guided by attentive listening and by counsel suited to deśa (place) and kāla (time). The verse highlights contextual judgment rather than rigid rule-following.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Yudhiṣṭhira hears the context-appropriate advice of the kingdom’s constituents (ministers and others) and then begins to respond, setting up the ensuing discussion on administration and righteous rule.