Shloka 12
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरोक्तिः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Addressed on Sincerity, Hospitality, and Settlement
मेरे पास यह एक अत्यन्त तेजस्वी निर्मल मणि है, जो दिन तथा रातमें भी प्रकाशित होती है, इसे भी मैं श्रीकृष्णको ही दूँगा; क्योंकि वे ही इसके योग्य हैं ।। एकेनाभिपतत्यह्ला योजनानि चतुर्दश । यानमश्चतरीयुक्तं दास्ये तस्मै तदप्यहम्,मेरे पास खच्चरियोंसे युक्त एक रथ है, जो एक दिनमें चौदह योजनतक चला जाता है, वह भी मैं उन्हींको अर्पित करूँगा
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | mama pāśe eko 'tyanta-tejasvī nirmalo maṇir asti, yaḥ divāniśam api prakāśate; tam api śrīkṛṣṇāyaiva dāsyāmi, yataḥ sa eva tasya yogyaḥ || ekenābhipataty ahlā yojanāni caturdaśa | yānam aścatārī-yuktaṃ dāsye tasmai tad apy aham ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “I possess a supremely radiant, flawless jewel that shines even by day and by night. I will give that too to Śrī Kṛṣṇa alone, for he alone is worthy of it. I also have a chariot yoked with mules, which can cover fourteen yojanas in a single day; that as well I shall offer to him.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea of yogyatā (worthiness): truly valuable offerings should be directed to one who can rightly receive them. At the same time, it implicitly contrasts external honor (gifts) with the deeper ethical demand of dharma—right action and just decisions cannot be replaced by material generosity.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks of presenting Kṛṣṇa with prestigious gifts—a luminous jewel and a swift mule-yoked chariot—signaling respect and an attempt at conciliation or appeasement as tensions between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas escalate.