Shloka 4
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
आप्तो दूत: संजय सुप्रियो5सि कल्याणवाक् शीलवांस्तृप्तिमांश्व न मुहोस्त्वं संजय जातु मत्या न च क़्ुद्धोरुच्यमानो दुरुक्तै:,संजय! तुम विश्वसनीय दूत और हमारे अत्यन्त प्रिय हो। तुम्हारी बातें कल्याणकारिणी होती हैं। तुम शीलवान् और संतोषी हो। तुम्हारी बुद्धि कभी मोहित नहीं होती और कट वचन सुनकर भी तुम कभी क्रोध नहीं करते हो
āpto dūtaḥ saṃjaya supriyo ’si kalyāṇavāk śīlavāṃs tṛptimāṃś ca | na muhos tvaṃ saṃjaya jātu matyā na ca kruddho rucyamāno duruktaiḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Sañjaya, you are a trustworthy envoy and very dear to us. Your speech is auspicious and beneficial; you are well-mannered and content. Your judgment is never clouded, and even when harsh words are spoken, you do not become angry.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds ethical virtues essential for counsel and diplomacy: trustworthy service, beneficial speech, contentment, clarity of judgment, and restraint from anger even when provoked by harsh words.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Sañjaya—who has come as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s messenger—acknowledging his reliability and exemplary conduct before engaging with the message and the tense political situation.