Shloka 53
राज्यस्यार्ध दीयतां पाण्डवाना- मिन्द्रप्रस्थं धर्मराजो$भियातु । मा मित्रध्रुक् पार्थिवानां जघन्य: पापां कीर्ति प्राप्स्यसे कौरवेन्द्र
sañjaya uvāca |
rājyasyārdhaṃ dīyatāṃ pāṇḍavānām indraprasthaṃ dharmarājo 'bhiyātu |
mā mitradhruk pārthivānāṃ jaghanyaḥ pāpāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpsyase kauravendra ||
Sañjaya dit : «Qu’on donne aux Pāṇḍava la moitié du royaume, et que Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) parte pour Indraprastha. Ô seigneur des Kuru, en agissant ainsi tu ne seras pas flétri parmi les rois comme traître à tes alliés, le plus vil des hommes ; et tu n’encourras ni honte ni triste renommée entachée de péché.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should choose a just compromise over stubbornness: giving the rightful share prevents the grave ethical fault of betraying allies and avoids the lasting stain of sinful notoriety. Political power is framed as subordinate to dharma and public moral accountability.
Sañjaya reports counsel urging the Kuru ruler to avert catastrophe by granting the Pāṇḍavas half the kingdom and allowing Yudhiṣṭhira to rule from Indraprastha, warning that refusal will brand the Kuru king as a treacherous, contemptible wrongdoer and bring disgrace.