Shloka 23
Adharma’s Short-Lived Prosperity and the Restorative Path of Tīrtha (लोमश–युधिष्ठिर संवादः)
स दास्यति यथाकालमुचिता यस्य या भृति: । स चेद् यथोचितां वृत्तिं न दद्यान्मनुजेश्वर:,जो पुरवासी राजभक्तिवश मेरे पीछे-पीछे चले आये हैं, वे अब महाराज धूृतराष्ट्रके पास चले जायँ। वे उनके लिये यथासमय समुचित आजीविका प्रदान करेंगे। यदि राजा धृतराष्ट्र उचित जीविकाकी व्यवस्था न करें तो पांचालनरेश ट्रुपद हमारा प्रिय और हित करनेके लिये अवश्य आपलोगोंको जीविका देंगे
sa dāsyati yathākālam ucitā yasya yā bhṛtiḥ | sa ced yathocitāṃ vṛttiṃ na dadyān manu-jeśvaraḥ |
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “He will provide, at the proper time, the fitting maintenance that is due to each person. But if that lord of men (the king) should fail to arrange an appropriate livelihood, then King Drupada of the Pāñcālas—our dear friend and well-wisher—will surely provide you with sustenance.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes timely and appropriate support of dependents and followers; if one authority fails in this obligation, a righteous ally should ensure people are not left without livelihood.
Yudhiṣṭhira speaks about arrangements for those who have followed him out of loyalty: they may go to Dhṛtarāṣṭra for maintenance, and if Dhṛtarāṣṭra does not provide properly, Drupada of Pāñcāla will support them as a friend and benefactor.