Shloka 15
धृतराष्ट्र-सेवा, राज्य-कार्य-विभागः
Service to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Allocation of State Duties
सहदेवं समीपस्थं नित्यमेव समादिशत् | तेन गोप्यो हि नृपति: सर्वावस्थो विशाम्पते
sahadevaṃ samīpasthaṃ nityam eva samādiśat | tena gopyo hi nṛpatiḥ sarvāvastho viśāmpate prajānātha ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Le roi Yudhiṣṭhira enjoignait sans cesse à Sahadeva, qui se tenait tout près, de demeurer toujours à ses côtés. Par lui, le roi était gardé en toute situation et en toute circonstance—ô seigneur du peuple, ô maître des sujets—afin que la sûreté du souverain ne fût jamais négligée.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma includes ensuring constant protection and orderly administration by assigning trusted, capable aides; loyal service (like Sahadeva’s) becomes an ethical instrument for safeguarding the realm through safeguarding the ruler.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira keeps Sahadeva close and repeatedly instructs him to remain nearby, entrusting him with the king’s protection in every circumstance.