Shloka 16
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
कौन्तेय तं न हिंसेत् स यो महीं विजिगीषते । गणानां भेदने योगमीप्सेथा: सह मन्सत्रिभि:
Kaunteya taṁ na hiṁset sa yo mahīṁ vijigīṣate | gaṇānāṁ bhedane yogam īpsethāḥ saha mantribhiḥ ||
कौन्तेय! जो समूची पृथ्वी को जीतना चाहता है, वह उस सामन्त की कभी हिंसा न करे। तुम अपने मन्त्रियों सहित सदा शत्रुगणों में फूट डालने के उपाय की इच्छा रखो।
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a principle of rāja-nīti: a would-be universal conqueror should avoid needless violence against a neighboring subordinate ruler and instead employ counsel-driven strategy—especially creating dissension among hostile factions—to secure victory with minimal direct harm.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses “Kaunteya” and offers political counsel: do not kill the local subordinate/neighboring ruler; work with ministers to weaken enemies by splitting their groups, indicating a shift from brute force to calculated diplomacy and internal disruption of opponents.