Shloka 20
Ālasyadoṣa-nirdeśa (On the Fault of Negligence) — The Camel’s Long-Neck Exemplum
गुह्ां मन्त्र श्र॒ुववतः सुसहायस्य चानघ । परीक्ष्यकारिणो हार्थास्तिष्ठन्तीह युधिष्ठिर । सहायसयुक्तेन मही कृत्स्ना शक््या प्रशासितुम्
guhyān mantrān śṛṇvataḥ su-sahāyasya cānagha | parīkṣya-kāriṇo hy arthās tiṣṭhantīha yudhiṣṭhira || sahāya-saṃyuktena mahī kṛtsnā śakyā praśāsitum | niṣpāpa yudhiṣṭhira ||
Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira yang tak bercela, kekayaan dan keberhasilan di dunia ini hanya menetap pada orang yang mau mendengar nasihat rahasia, ditopang sekutu-sekutu yang cakap, dan bertindak setelah menimbang dengan saksama. Raja yang diperlengkapi para pembantu demikian sanggup memerintah seluruh bumi; tanpa mereka, kedaulatan tak dapat teguh dipertahankan.
उड्ड उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical rulership depends on three disciplines: safeguarding and heeding confidential counsel, relying on competent helpers, and acting only after careful examination. Prosperity (artha) is stable where deliberation and capable support exist.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Udḍa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, emphasizing practical principles of administration: a king’s success and the stability of his resources hinge on wise counsel and strong, trustworthy assistants.