Shloka 23
अध्याय ३० — क्रोधदोषाः क्षमाप्रशंसा च
Defects of Anger and the Praise of Forbearance
यथा दारुमयी योषा नरवीर समाहिता । ईरयत्यड्रमजड्भानि तथा राजन्नरिमा: प्रजा:,नरवीर नरेश! जैसे कठपुतली सूत्रधारसे प्रेरित हो अपने अंगोंका संचालन करती है, उसी प्रकार यह सारी प्रजा ईश्वरकी प्रेरणासे अपने हस्त-पाद आदि अंगोंद्वारा विविध चेष्टाएँ करती हैं
yathā dārumayī yoṣā naravīra samāhitā | īrayaty aṅgam ajñāni tathā rājann arimāḥ prajāḥ ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Oh rey, oh héroe entre los hombres: así como una mujer de madera—una marioneta—puesta en movimiento por el titiritero mueve sus miembros insensibles, del mismo modo este pueblo, sea enemigo o amigo, actúa con manos, pies y demás órganos sólo según el impulso del Señor.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human actions are compared to a puppet’s movements: outward activity occurs through the senses and limbs, but the deeper impulse is governed by a higher power. The ethical takeaway is to reduce ego, harsh blame, and pride, cultivating humility and self-restraint in judging others’ actions.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king/hero and uses a vivid metaphor of a wooden puppet moved by a controller to explain how people’s varied actions arise under divine prompting, framing a reflective discussion on responsibility, governance, and moral perspective.