Shloka 25
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
दारेष्वप्यतिसक्तश्न यक्ष्माणं समपद्यत | यदा त्वराजके राष्ट्र न ववर्ष सुरेश्वर: । तदाभ्यधावन् मामेव प्रजा: क्षुद्धयपीडिता:,“वे अपनी पत्नियोंमें अधिक आसक्त होनेके कारण राजयक्ष्माके रोगसे पीड़ित हो मृत्युको प्राप्त हो गये। तब बिना राजाके राज्यमें देवराज इन्द्रने वर्षा बंद कर दी, उस दशामें सारी प्रजा क्षुधाके भयसे पीड़ित हो मेरे ही पास दौड़ी आयी”
dāreṣv apy atisaktaś ca yakṣmāṇaṃ samapadyata | yadā tv arājake rāṣṭre na vavarṣa sureśvaraḥ | tadābhyadhāvan mām eva prajāḥ kṣudhayāpīḍitāḥ |
Vāyu said: “Even while bound by excessive attachment to their wives, they fell into consumption (rājayakṣmā) and, afflicted by it, met their death. Then, when the kingdom was without a king, Indra, lord of the gods, withheld the rains. In that condition, the entire populace—tormented by hunger—ran to me alone for refuge.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links personal and political disorder to collective suffering: uncontrolled attachment leads to bodily ruin, and a kingless realm loses stability so severely that even nature’s support (rain) is withdrawn; in crisis, people seek a sustaining power for protection.
Vāyu recounts a time when people, weakened by disease arising from excessive sensual attachment, died; afterward, in a rulerless kingdom, Indra stopped the rains, causing famine, and the starving populace rushed to Vāyu for help.