Shloka 15
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
कश्चित् सेनाचरो5रण्ये मिथुनं तदपश्यत । धनुश्व सशरं दृष्टवा तथा कृष्णाजिनानि च
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kaścit senācaraḥ araṇye mithunaṃ tad apaśyat | dhanuḥ ca saśaraṃ dṛṣṭvā tathā kṛṣṇājināni ca |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ある兵が森を巡っていると、二人の幼子が寄り添っているのを見つけた。そこには矢を備えた弓があり、さらに黒羚羊の皮もあったので、彼は「この二人は弓術の学に通じたバラモンの子に違いない」と悟った。彼は弓矢とともにその幼子たちをシャンタヌ王に示した。王は憐れみに心を動かされ、二人を宮殿へ連れ帰り、問われるたびにただ「この二人は我が子である」と紹介した。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights royal dharma expressed as compassion and protection: a king is expected to shelter the vulnerable. It also shows how external signs (bow, arrows, kṛṣṇājina) indicate a disciplined lineage and learning, prompting responsible action rather than exploitation.
A soldier discovers two children in the forest and, noticing a bow, arrows, and black antelope-skins, infers they are born of a Brahmin skilled in archery. He brings them to King Śantanu, who is moved by pity and takes them home, presenting them publicly as his own children.