Shloka 53
राजपिण्डभयादेते यदि हास्यन्ति जीवितम् । नहि शक्ष्यन्ति राजानं युधिष्ठिरमुदीक्षितुम्,“इस राज्यका इन्होंने जो अन्न खाया है, उसके भयसे यद्यपि ये तुम्हारी ओरसे लड़कर अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग कर देंगे, तथापि राजा युधिष्ठिरकी ओर कभी वक्र दृष्टिसे नहीं देख सकेंगे
rājapiṇḍabhayād ete yadi hāsyanti jīvitam | nahi śakṣyanti rājānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram udīkṣitum ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Par crainte de la largesse royale dont ils ont mangé—liés par l’obligation du repas du roi—ces hommes pourront certes jeter leur vie dans le combat à tes côtés ; pourtant, ils ne pourront pas poser sur le roi Yudhiṣṭhira un regard hostile, de travers.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding moral force of accepted patronage: those who have lived on a king’s bounty may feel compelled to fight and even die for their patron, yet true righteousness commands such respect that they cannot bring themselves to regard a dharmic king like Yudhiṣṭhira with hostile intent.
Vaiśampāyana comments on the mindset of certain warriors/retainers: although they may fight on one side due to the obligation of having eaten the ‘king’s food’ (royal support), their conscience and reverence prevent them from turning their gaze against Yudhiṣṭhira as an enemy in spirit.