Shloka 3
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
कच्चित् तेडपि निरातड्का वसन्ति विषये तव । कच्चिद् वर्तसि पौराणीं वृत्तिं राजर्षिसेविताम्
kaccit te 'pi nirātaṅkā vasanti viṣaye tava | kaccid vartasi paurāṇīṁ vṛttiṁ rājarṣi-sevitām ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Apakah rakyatmu tinggal di kerajaaanmu tanpa rasa takut dan tanpa gangguan? Dan apakah engkau menjalankan diri menurut tata pemerintahan kuno yang dihormati zaman, sebagaimana dipraktikkan dan dijunjung oleh para raja-ṛṣi?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is measured by two standards: ensuring the people live without fear (security and justice) and personally adhering to the time-tested ethical norms of rajadharma exemplified by the royal sages.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, speaking to the reigning king (contextually Yudhiṣṭhira), inquires about the condition of the kingdom—whether the populace is safe and whether the king follows the ancient righteous model of governance.