Shloka 53
राज्यस्यार्ध दीयतां पाण्डवाना- मिन्द्रप्रस्थं धर्मराजो$भियातु । मा मित्रध्रुक् पार्थिवानां जघन्य: पापां कीर्ति प्राप्स्यसे कौरवेन्द्र,“तुम पाण्डवोंका आधा राज्य दे दो। धर्मराज युधिष्छिर इन्द्रप्रस्थ चले जायँँ। कौरवराज! ऐसा करनेसे तुम राजाओंमें मित्रद्रोही और नीच नहीं कहलाओगे तथा तुम्हें पापपूर्ण अपयश नहीं प्राप्त होगा
sañjaya uvāca |
rājyasyārdhaṃ dīyatāṃ pāṇḍavānām indraprasthaṃ dharmarājo 'bhiyātu |
mā mitradhruk pārthivānāṃ jaghanyaḥ pāpāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpsyase kauravendra ||
Sañjaya said: “Let half the kingdom be given to the Pāṇḍavas, and let Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) depart to Indraprastha. O lord of the Kurus, by doing so you will not be branded among kings as a treacherous betrayer of allies, the basest of men; nor will you incur sinful notoriety and disgrace.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should choose a just compromise over stubbornness: giving the rightful share prevents the grave ethical fault of betraying allies and avoids the lasting stain of sinful notoriety. Political power is framed as subordinate to dharma and public moral accountability.
Sañjaya reports counsel urging the Kuru ruler to avert catastrophe by granting the Pāṇḍavas half the kingdom and allowing Yudhiṣṭhira to rule from Indraprastha, warning that refusal will brand the Kuru king as a treacherous, contemptible wrongdoer and bring disgrace.