Shloka 21
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धर्मार्थकुशलौ माद्रीपुत्रावनन्तरम् । नकुल: सहदेवश्न वाक्यं जगदतु: परम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato dharmārthakuśalau mādrīputrāv anantaram | nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca vākyam jagadatuḥ param ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Entonces, inmediatamente después, los dos hijos de Mādrī—Nakula y Sahadeva, diestros en comprender el dharma y el artha—expusieron su excelente parecer. En el consejo que se iba desplegando, sus palabras se presentaron como guía mesurada, uniendo el deber moral (dharma) con el bienestar práctico (artha).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ideal of counsel: true guidance should unite dharma (ethical duty and righteousness) with artha (practical benefit, governance, and welfare). Nakula and Sahadeva are introduced as exemplars of this balanced competence.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, transitions to the next speakers: Nakula and Sahadeva. After prior statements, they now present their own ‘excellent’ counsel, signaling a continued sequence of advisory speeches in the Śānti Parva.