Shloka 13
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
अधीतविद्यक्षरणोपपतन्नो योअस्त्रं चतुष्पात् पुनरेव चक्रे । गन्धर्वपुत्रप्रतिमं तरस्विनं तमश्वत्थामानं कुशल सम पृच्छे:,जो वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्न तथा सदाचारयुक्त हैं, जिन्होंने चारों पादोंसे युक्त अस्त्रविद्याकी शिक्षा पायी है, जो गन्धर्वकुमारके समान वेगशाली वीर हैं, उन आचार्यपुत्र अश्वत्थामाका भी कुशल-समाचार पूछना
adhītavidyākṣaraṇopapatanno yo 'straṃ catuṣpāt punar eva cakre | gandharvaputrapratimaṃ tarasvinaṃ tam aśvatthāmānaṃ kuśalaṃ samapṛcche ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Tanyakan pula kesejahteraan Aśvatthāmā, putra sang guru—sempurna dalam studi Veda dan berdisiplin dalam laku; terlatih dalam ilmu senjata yang lengkap dengan empat bagiannya; serta kesatria perkasa, secepat pangeran Gandharva.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political tension and impending war, Yudhiṣṭhira maintains dharmic courtesy by inquiring after the well-being of others, acknowledging learning, discipline, and merit—even in those aligned with the opposing side.
Yudhiṣṭhira is sending or conveying formal greetings and welfare-inquiries, specifically asking after Aśvatthāmā, praising his Vedic learning, good conduct, and complete training in weapon-science, likening his speed and prowess to that of a Gandharva prince.