Shloka 14
Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma
अजाततशत्रो भद्र ते शृणु मे भ्रातृभि: सह । त्वत्प्रसादान्न्महीपाल शोको नास्मान् प्रबाधते,“अजातशत्रो! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम अपने भाइयोंसहित मेरी बात सुनो। भूपाल! तुम्हारे प्रसादसे अब हमलोगोंको किसी प्रकारका शोक वष्ट नहीं दे रहा है
ajātaśatro bhadra te śṛṇu me bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | tvatprasādān mahīpāla śoko nāsmān prabādhate ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Ajātaśatru, semoga kebaikan menaungimu. Dengarkan kata-kataku bersama saudara-saudaramu. Wahai raja, berkat anugerahmu, duka tidak lagi menimpa kami dengan cara apa pun.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of a righteous king’s goodwill: when leadership is compassionate and supportive, it becomes a source of emotional refuge, easing the grief of others. It also models respectful counsel—speaking with blessings and asking the king to listen along with his brothers, emphasizing shared responsibility.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru) directly, offering a benediction and requesting that he listen together with his brothers. He states that, due to the king’s favor, the speakers are no longer oppressed by sorrow—setting a consolatory tone within the Ashramavāsika context.