Shloka 7
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १३५: कुन्त्याः कृष्णं प्रति संदेशः
Kuntī’s Message to Kṛṣṇa
जो संकटमें पड़े हुए राजाके राज्यको अपना ही मानकर उसकी तथा राजाकी रक्षाके लिये कृतसंकल्प होते हैं, ऐसे सुह्दोंको तू कभी अपनेसे विलग न कर और वे भी भयभीत अवस्थामें तेरा परित्याग न करें ।। प्रभावं पौरुषं बुद्धिं जिज्ञासन्त्या मया तव । विदधत्या समाश्वासमुक्त तेजोविवृद्धये
prabhāvaṃ pauruṣaṃ buddhiṃ jijñāsantyā mayā tava | vidadhatyā samāśvāsam uktaṃ tejo-vivṛddhaye ||
Seeking to understand your true influence, manly prowess, and judgment, I have spoken words of reassurance—so that your inner fire and confidence may grow. Therefore, never separate yourself from those loyal friends who, in a king’s time of distress, treat his kingdom as their own and resolve to protect both him and his realm; and let it never happen that they, when fear arises, abandon you.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or leader) must cherish and retain loyal well-wishers who stand firm in crisis, protecting both the person and the polity; such allies should not be cast off, and they in turn should not abandon the leader in fear. Encouragement that strengthens tejas (moral courage and resolve) is presented as a means to sustain this bond.
A ‘son’ addresses counsel to another, stating that the reassurance just offered was meant to test/understand the other’s capability (influence, valor, judgment) and to increase his confidence. The speech then pivots to political-ethical advice about maintaining steadfast allies during a kingdom’s distress.