Shloka 193
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
कोशेन पोरैर्दण्डेन ये चास्य प्रियकारिण: । यदि अपनेमें युद्धकी शक्ति न हो तो मन्त्रियोंके साथ उस आक्रमणकारी राजाकी शरणमें जाय तथा कोश
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | kośena pauraiḥ daṇḍena ye cāsya priyakāriṇaḥ | yadi ātmany yuddhaśaktir na syāt tadā mantribhiḥ saha tasya ākrāntur rāño śaraṇaṃ vrajet | kośaṃ paurān manuṣyān daṇḍaśaktiṃ ca anyāni ca priyāṇi karmāṇi sarvāṇi samarpya taṃ pratidvandvinaṃ nivartayituṃ yateta |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Si l’on ne trouve pas en soi la force de faire la guerre, alors, avec ses ministres, il faut chercher la protection du roi envahisseur. En offrant le trésor, les gens de la cité, le pouvoir coercitif du châtiment, et tout ce qui est cher et utile, il faut s’efforcer de faire reculer ce rival.»
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the capacity to resist by force is absent, rājadharma may require a pragmatic choice: seek protection through diplomacy and submission, even at the cost of wealth and administrative power, in order to prevent greater destruction and to preserve lives.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra articulates a policy option for a threatened ruler: if war-strength is lacking, approach the aggressor with ministers, offer resources such as treasury, citizens’ support, and coercive authority, and attempt to induce the rival to withdraw.