Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement
विनीतांश्व कुलीनांश्व धर्मार्थकुशलानूजून् । ते: सार्ध मन्त्रयेथास्त्वं नात्यर्थ बहुभि: सह
vinītāṁś ca kulīnāṁś ca dharmārthakuśalān ūjūn | teḥ sārdhaṁ mantrayethās tvaṁ nātyarthaṁ bahubhiḥ saha ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Prends conseil auprès d’hommes disciplinés, de bonne lignée, habiles en dharma et en l’intérêt pratique, et droits dans leur conduite. Consulte de tels hommes ; ne prolonge pas outre mesure les délibérations au milieu de la foule».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Seek counsel from a small circle of disciplined, reputable, dharma-and-artha-competent, straightforward advisors; avoid overlong or overly public deliberation, since prudence and confidentiality support righteous and effective action.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, conveys a piece of practical ethical instruction: the addressee is advised on how to consult—whom to choose as counselors and how to avoid the pitfalls of consulting with too many people at once.