Shloka 52

Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel

Devanagari script

समं हि राज्यं प्रीतिश्व स्थानं हि विदितात्मनाम्‌ । पाण्डवेष्वथ युष्मासु धर्मस्त्वभ्यधिकस्तत:

Transliteration

samam hi rājyaṁ prītiś ca sthānaṁ hi viditātmanām | pāṇḍaveṣv atha yuṣmāsu dharmas tv abhyadhikas tataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “For these self-knowing men, it makes no difference whether the kingdom rests with the Pāṇḍavas or with you; their regard and place in the heart are the same toward both sides. Yet, beyond the kingdom itself, they hold dharma to be of higher importance.”

Word by Word

• {'samam': 'equal, the same', 'hi': 'indeed, for', 'rājyam': 'kingdom, sovereignty', 'prītiḥ': 'affection, goodwill', 'ca': 'and', 'sthānam': 'place, standing, position (in one’s regard)', 'viditātmanām': 'of those who know the Self

• self-realized persons', 'pāṇḍaveṣu': 'among/with the Pāṇḍavas', 'atha': 'and then

• moreover', 'yuṣmāsu': 'among/with you (the Kaurava side addressed)', 'dharmaḥ': 'dharma

• righteousness, moral law, duty', 'tu': 'but, however', 'abhyadhikaḥ': 'superior, greater, higher', 'tataḥ': 'than that

• therefore (contextually: than the kingdom)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Kauravas (implied by 'yuṣmāsu')
• rājya (kingdom)
• dharma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Those established in self-knowledge remain impartial regarding political gain; for them, sovereignty is secondary, while dharma is the highest criterion guiding judgment and allegiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Vaiśampāyana explains that certain wise, self-realized figures do not favor either the Pāṇḍavas or the opposing party for the sake of power; they value both equally in affection, yet prioritize dharma above the question of who rules.