Shloka 41
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
प्रजा: कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवान् शीलभूषणान् । “बुद्धिमान् कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठी समस्त पाण्डव शीलरूपी सदगुणसे विभूषित हैं; अतः भले- बुरे सभी समयोंमें सारी प्रजा निश्चय ही उनका अनुसरण करेगी || ४० $ ।।
prajāḥ kurukulaśreṣṭha pāṇḍavān śīlabhūṣaṇān | buddhimān kurukulaśreṣṭhī samasta-pāṇḍava-śīlarūpī sadguṇaiḥ vibhūṣitaḥ; ataḥ bhale-bure sarveṣu samayeṣu sārvā prajā niścayaṃ teṣām anugamanaṃ kariṣyati ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh el mejor de la estirpe de los Kuru, los Pāṇḍavas están adornados con noble conducta y buen carácter. Sabios y ricamente dotados de virtudes que se manifiestan como ejemplo de comportamiento, se vuelven norma para los demás. Por ello, tanto en tiempos favorables como adversos, todo el pueblo seguirá sin duda su guía».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public life is shaped by exemplars: when rulers or leading figures are steady in wisdom and virtuous conduct (śīla, sadguṇa), society naturally imitates them in both prosperity and hardship. Ethical leadership thus becomes a practical force for sustaining dharma.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the moral stature of the Pāṇḍavas, emphasizing that their recognized wisdom and good conduct make them models for the people; hence the subjects are expected to align themselves with the Pāṇḍavas’ path regardless of changing circumstances.