Shloka 6
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
ते विश्रब्धा: प्रभाषन्ते सम्पृच्छन्ते च मां सदा । प्रमत्तेष्वप्रमत्तो5स्मि सदा सुप्तेषु जागृमि
te viśrabdhāḥ prabhāṣante sampṛcchante ca māṃ sadā | pramatteṣv apramatto 'smi sadā supteṣu jāgṛmi ||
Ces brāhmaṇas, tout à fait en confiance, s’entretiennent librement avec moi et s’enquièrent sans cesse de mon bien-être. Même lorsqu’ils sont négligents, je demeure toujours vigilant ; lorsqu’ils dorment, je reste éveillé.
शम्बर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between trust and vigilance: when others become overly confident and careless, one’s alertness can either serve protection or, in an adharma context, enable exploitation. It implicitly warns that social trust (especially toward respected brāhmaṇas) should not become negligence.
Śambara describes his relationship with brāhmaṇas: they speak with him freely and ask after him, trusting him completely. He contrasts their heedlessness and sleep with his constant watchfulness, portraying himself as continuously alert while they are off guard.