Shloka 30
सुरभि–इन्द्रसंवादः
Surabhi–Indra Dialogue as a Governance Exemplar
न किंचिदुक्त्वा दुर्मेधास्तस्थी किंचिदवाड्मुख: । तमशुश्रूषमाणं तु विलिखन्तं वसुंधराम्,उस दुर्बृद्धिने मैत्रेयजीको कुछ भी उत्तर न दिया। वह अपने मुँहको कुछ नीचा किये चुपचाप खड़ा रहा। राजन! मैत्रेयजीने देखा, दुर्योधन सुनना नहीं चाहता, वह पैरोंसे धरतीको कुरेद रहा है। यह देख उनके मनमें क्रोध जाग उठा। फिर तो वे मुनिश्रेष्ठ मैत्रेय कोपके वशीभूत हो गये
na kiñcid uktvā durmedhās tasthau kiñcid avāṅmukhaḥ | tam aśuśrūṣamāṇaṃ tu vilikhantaṃ vasuṃdharām ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Without saying anything, the dull-witted man stood there in silence, his face lowered. Seeing him unwilling to listen and scraping the earth with his foot, the sage Maitreya’s anger was stirred—an ethical warning that arrogance and contempt for counsel invite grave consequences.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader’s refusal to listen—shown through silence, lowered face, and contemptuous gestures—signals inner arrogance and invites ethical and practical downfall; reverence for wise counsel is a safeguard of dharma.
Duryodhana gives no reply and stands with his face lowered, scraping the ground, indicating he does not wish to listen. Maitreya notices this disrespect and becomes angry, setting the stage for a stern response.