Shloka 26
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
ज्ञातीश्वाप्पनुपश्येथा विष्णुरदेवगणान् यथा । गुरव: पालनीयास्ते गच्छ पालय मेदिनीम्
jñātīśv āppanupaśyethā viṣṇur adevagaṇān yathā | guravaḥ pālanīyās te gaccha pālaya medinīm ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Mira a tus parientes como Viṣṇu mira a las huestes de los dioses: con ánimo protector y sin hostilidad. A esos mayores y maestros debes salvaguardarlos. Ve, y gobierna la tierra».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rājadharma: a ruler should regard relatives with a protective, preserving attitude (likened to Viṣṇu’s sustaining relation to the gods) and must especially safeguard and honor elders and teachers; rightful governance is framed as protection rather than domination.
Vaiśampāyana narrates an instruction or exhortation directed to a would-be ruler: he is urged to treat his kin without enmity, to protect venerable elders/teachers, and to proceed to rule the realm—presenting governance as a moral duty grounded in care and restraint.