Shloka 8
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
स्वाध्यायिनो ब्राह्मणा भिक्षवश्न तपस्विनो ये च नित्या वनेषु । अभिवाद्या वै मद्धचनेन वृद्धा- स्तथेतरेषां कुशलं वदेथा:,स्वाध्यायशील ब्राह्मणों, संन्यासियों तथा सदा वनमें निवास करनेवाले तपस्वी मुनियों एवं बड़े-बूढ़े लोगोंसे हमारी ओरसे प्रणाम कहना और दूसरे लोगोंसे भी कुशल-समाचार पूछना
svādhyāyino brāhmaṇā bhikṣavaś ca tapassvino ye ca nityā vaneṣu | abhivādyā vai madvacanena vṛddhās tathetareṣāṁ kuśalaṁ vadethāḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Convey my respectful salutations, in my name, to the Brāhmaṇas devoted to Vedic study, to the mendicants, and to the ascetics who dwell continually in the forests. Offer due reverence to the elders, and to all the others as well, inquire after their welfare.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, dharma is upheld through humility and social responsibility: honoring Vedic learners, renunciants, and elders, and maintaining bonds of care by asking after others’ welfare.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger (implicitly) to convey his salutations to religious and senior members of society—Brāhmaṇas devoted to study, mendicants, forest ascetics, and elders—and to inquire about the well-being of everyone else.