Shloka 2
Divākara-prasāda and the Establishment of Akṣaya-anna
Sūrya’s Favor and Inexhaustible Provision
धृतराष्ट्र रवाच प्रज्ञा च ते भार्गवस्येव शुद्धा धर्म च त्वं परमं वेत्थ सूक्ष्मम् । समक्ष त्वं सम्मत: कौरवाणां पथ्यं चैषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि,धृतराष्ट्र बोले--विदुर! तुम्हारी बुद्धि शुक्राचार्यके समान शुद्ध है। तुम सूक्ष्म-से-सूक्ष्म श्रेष्ठ धर्मको जानते हो। तुम्हारी सबके प्रति समान दृष्टि है और कौरव तथा पाण्डव सभी तुम्हारा सम्मान करते हैं। अतः मेरे तथा इन पाण्डवोंके लिये जो हितकर कार्य हो, वह मुझे बताओ
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | prajñā ca te bhārgavasy eva śuddhā dharmaṃ ca tvaṃ paramaṃ vettha sūkṣmam | samakṣaṃ tvaṃ sammataḥ kauravāṇāṃ pathyaṃ caiṣāṃ mama caiva bravīhi ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Vidura, your discernment is as pure as that of the Bhārgava. You understand dharma in its highest and most subtle form. You look upon all with impartiality, and you are respected among the Kauravas. Therefore, tell me what is truly beneficial—both for them and for me.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True counsel in governance should come from a person of purified discernment who understands dharma in its subtlety and remains impartial; such advice is described as ‘pathyam’—genuinely beneficial rather than merely pleasing.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Vidura, praising his purity of intellect and deep knowledge of dharma, and requests him to state what course of action would be beneficial for the Kauravas and for Dhṛtarāṣṭra himself.