Shloka 33
कच्चित् पुत्रा जीवपुत्रा: सुसम्यग् वर्तन्ते वो वृत्तिमनृशंसरूपा: । इति स्मोक््त्वा संजय ब्रूहि पश्चा- दजातशत्रुः कुशली सपुत्र:,संजय! उन बड़ी-बूढ़ी स्त्रियोंसे इस प्रकार कहना--“माताओ! आपके पुत्र आपके साथ उत्तम बर्ताव करते हैं न? उनमें क्रूरता तो नहीं आ गयी है? उन सबके दीर्घायु पुत्र हो गये हैं न?” इस प्रकार कहकर पीछे यह बताना कि आपका बालक अजातशत्रु युधिष्ठिर पुत्रोंसहित सकुशल है
kaccit putrā jīvaputrāḥ susamyag vartante vo vṛttim anṛśaṃsarūpāḥ | iti smoktva saṃjaya brūhi paścād ajātaśatruḥ kuśalī saputraḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Sañjaya, ask the venerable elder women: ‘Mothers, do your sons treat you well? Has any harshness or cruelty arisen in them? And have all of you been blessed with long-lived sons?’ Having said this, then convey afterward that Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) is safe and well, together with his sons.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, dharma is shown through concern for elders and the moral conduct of the young: sons should treat mothers respectfully and remain free from cruelty (anṛśaṃsa). A righteous leader also communicates reassurance and welfare, not merely strategy.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Sañjaya to convey a message to the senior women of the Kuru household: inquire about their well-being and whether their sons behave properly and compassionately, and then report that Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru) is himself safe and well with his sons.