Shloka 24
Adharma’s Short-Lived Prosperity and the Restorative Path of Tīrtha (लोमश–युधिष्ठिर संवादः)
अस्मत्प्रियहितार्थाय पाज्चाल्यो व: प्रदास्यति,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
asmadpriyahitārthāya pāñcālyo vaḥ pradāsyati | ye puravāsino rājabhaktivāśa mama pṛṣṭhataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ samāgatāḥ, te ’dya mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭrasya samīpaṃ gacchantu | sa tebhyo yathākālaṃ yogyām ājīvikāṃ pradāsyati | yadi rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro yogyāṃ jīvikāṃ na vidadhyāt, tadā pāñcālanṛpo drupadaḥ asmatpriyahitārthaṃ yuṣmabhyaṃ niścayena jīvikāṃ dāsyati ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “For our welfare and out of affection for us, the king of the Pāñcālas will provide for you. Those townsmen who, compelled by loyalty to the king, have followed behind me—let them now go to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. At the proper time he will grant them suitable means of livelihood. And if King Dhṛtarāṣṭra does not arrange an appropriate livelihood, then Drupada, the Pāñcāla ruler, will certainly support you for our sake and for your good.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes ensuring the livelihood and protection of dependents and followers; if one authority fails in this duty, another righteous ally should step in so that loyal subjects are not harmed.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses townsmen who followed him out of loyalty, instructing them to return to Dhṛtarāṣṭra for maintenance; he adds that if Dhṛtarāṣṭra does not provide, Drupada of Pāñcāla will support them for the Pāṇḍavas’ sake.