Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
यश्न वक्षिन्नर: किंचिदप्रियं वाम्बिकासुते
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yaḥ na vakṣyati naraḥ kiñcid apriyaṃ vāmbikāsute, viparītaḥ sa me śatrur niyamya sa bhaven naraḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Any man who does not speak anything unpleasant to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, is dear to me. But whoever behaves in opposition to his command is my enemy; such a person should be restrained and brought under discipline.” (Thus Yudhiṣṭhira, ever compassionate, repeatedly instructed his brothers and ministers to honor Dhṛtarāṣṭra and to treat obedience to him as a measure of loyalty and right conduct.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira frames ethical loyalty as respectful speech and obedient conduct toward the elder king Dhṛtarāṣṭra; harming him by words or defying his authority is treated as adharma and a breach of allegiance, warranting restraint and correction.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to regard Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Ambikā’s son) as worthy of honor; those who comply are counted as friends, while those who act contrary are deemed enemies and are to be disciplined.