Shloka 3
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १३५: कुन्त्याः कृष्णं प्रति संदेशः
Kuntī’s Message to Kṛṣṇa
शत्रूनेके प्रपद्यन्ते प्रजहत्यपरे पुनः । अन््ये तु प्रजिहीर्षन्ति ये पुरस्ताद् विमानिता:,उनमेंसे कुछ लोग तो उस राजाके शत्रुओंकी शरणमें चले जाते हैं, दूसरे लोग उसका त्यागमात्र कर देते हैं और कुछ लोग जो पहले राजाद्वारा अपमानित हुए होते हैं, वे उस अवस्थामें उसके ऊपर प्रहार करनेकी भी इच्छा कर लेते हैं
śatrūṇ eke prapadyante prajahaty apare punaḥ | anye tu prajihīrṣanti ye purastād vimānitāḥ ||
Some, faced with a king’s decline, go over to his enemies for protection; others merely abandon him. Still others—those who had earlier been insulted and humiliated by him—now even long to strike at him.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s treatment of people determines their loyalty: when power wanes, opportunists defect to enemies, the indifferent withdraw, and the previously humiliated may seek revenge. Ethical governance and restraint prevent such collapse of support.
The speaker (the son) describes typical reactions of subjects or dependents when a king becomes vulnerable: some seek safety with rival powers, some simply leave, and those earlier insulted become actively hostile.