Shloka 3
Divākara-prasāda and the Establishment of Akṣaya-anna
Sūrya’s Favor and Inexhaustible Provision
इस प्रकार श्रीमह़्ा भारत वनपवकि अन्तर्गत अरण्यपर्वमें काम्यकवनप्रवेशविषयक तीसरा अध्याय पूरा हुआ,एवंगते विदुर यदद्य कार्य पौराश्न मे कथमस्मान् भजेरन् । ते चाप्यस्मान् नोद्धरेयु: समूलां- स्तत्त्वं ब्रूया: साधुकार्याणि वेत्सि विदुर! ऐसी दशामें अब हमारा जो कर्तव्य हो वह बताओ। ये पुरवासी कैसे हमलोगोंसे प्रेम करेंगे। तुम ऐसा कोई उपाय बताओ जिससे वे पाण्डव हमलोगोंको जड़-मूलसहित उखाड़ न फेंके। तुम अच्छे कार्योको जानते हो। अतः हमें ठीक-ठीक कर्तव्यका निर्देश करो
evaṃgate vidura yad adya kāryaṃ paurāś ca me katham asmān bhajeran | te cāpy asmān noddhareyuḥ samūlāṃs tattvaṃ brūyāḥ sādhu-kāryāṇi vetsīti ||
“Vidura, tell me what should be done now that matters have come to this pass. How might the citizens come to feel goodwill toward us? And speak truly of a means by which those (Pāṇḍavas) would not uproot us entirely, root and branch. You understand what right and prudent action is—therefore instruct us clearly about our proper duty.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In crisis, one should seek truthful counsel grounded in dharma and prudent action—especially regarding how to regain public trust and avoid unjust, destructive outcomes.
A speaker, addressing Vidura, asks for clear guidance on what should be done in the present predicament: how to win the citizens’ goodwill and how to prevent the Pāṇḍavas from destroying them completely.