Shloka 7
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 71 — Kṣatra-dharma Counsel, Public Legitimacy, and Mobilization
तन्मतं धृतराष्ट्रस्य सो5स्यात्मा विवृतान्तर: । यथोक्त दूत आचहष्टे वध्य: स्यादन्यथा ब्रुवन्
tanmataṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya so 'syātmā vivṛtāntaraḥ | yathoktaṃ dūta ācakhaṣṭe vadhyaḥ syād anyathā bruvan |
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Inilah niat Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Saṁjaya seakan-akan dirinya sendiri, datang dengan isi batin yang tersingkap. Sebagai utusan ia menyampaikan tepat seperti yang diperintahkan; sebab bila ia berkata lain, bertentangan dengan tuannya, ia akan dianggap layak dihukum.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights envoy-dharma and political ethics: a messenger is expected to convey the ruler’s message faithfully. Altering it is treated as a grave breach of duty, even punishable, because it distorts responsibility and can inflame conflict.
Yudhiṣṭhira interprets Sañjaya’s report as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own mind made public. He stresses that Sañjaya, acting as envoy, merely repeated his master’s words—since contradicting them would expose him to severe punishment—thereby underscoring that the message truly reflects Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s intent.