Shloka 25
खाण्डवप्रस्थप्रवेशः तथा इन्द्रप्रस्थनिर्माणवर्णनम् | Entry into Khāṇḍavaprastha and Description of Indraprastha’s Founding
को हि द्रुपदमासाद्य मित्र क्षत्त: सबान्धवम् | न बुभूषेद् भवेनार्थी गतश्रीरपि पार्थिव:,विदुर! कौन ऐसा राजा है, जिसकी सम्पत्ति नष्ट हो जानेपर भी बन्धु-बान्धवोंसहित द्रपदको मित्रके रूपमें पाकर जीना नहीं चाहेगा
ko hi drupadam āsādya mitra kṣattaḥ sabāndhavam | na bubhūṣed bhavenārthī gataśrīr api pārthivaḥ, vidura ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Vidura, quel roi—fût-il déchu de sa fortune—ne voudrait pas continuer à vivre, s’il pouvait s’approcher de Drupada en ami, avec les siens ? Pour qui est dans le besoin, une telle alliance est déjà un moyen de relèvement.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights political and ethical realism: even a fallen ruler seeks stability through trustworthy alliances. Friendship with a powerful and well-connected king (Drupada) is portrayed as a legitimate means for recovery and protection, especially when one’s own prosperity has declined.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Vidura, arguing rhetorically that any king who has lost his wealth would still want to survive and rebuild if he could secure Drupada’s friendship along with the support of his own relatives—emphasizing the strategic value of Drupada as an ally.