Shloka 4
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
कच्चिन्न्यायाननुच्छिद्य कोशस्ते$भिप्रपूर्यते । अरिमध्यस्थमित्रेषु वर्तसे चानुरूपत:
kaccin nyāyān anucchidya kośas te 'bhiprapūryate | ari-madhyastha-mitreṣu vartase cānurūpataḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Katakan padaku—apakah perbendaharaanmu terus terisi tanpa melanggar keadilan? Dan apakah engkau bersikap tepat terhadap musuh, pihak netral, dan sahabat, masing-masing sesuai kedudukannya?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal prosperity must be grounded in nyāya: wealth should be accumulated through lawful, non-exploitative means, and a ruler must practice discerning, appropriate conduct toward enemies, neutrals, and allies—neither unjust aggression nor misplaced favoritism.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra poses a traditional rājadharma-style inquiry, checking whether the addressee’s governance is ethically sound: (1) the treasury is being filled without violating justice, and (2) diplomatic and social dealings with different categories of people—enemy, neutral, friend—are being handled suitably.