Shloka 16
सौबलेयी च गान्धारी पुत्रशोकमपास्य तम्,विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है, वही मेरा सुहृद् है। विपरीत आचरण करनेवाला मेरा शत्रु है। वह मेरे दण्डका भागी होगा
saubaleyī ca gāndhārī putraśokam apāsya tam | viparītācaraṇaṃ me śatrur niyamyācaraṇaṃ bhaven naraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Saubaleyī Gāndhārī, setting aside that grief for her sons, (heard/accepted this resolve): “Whoever lives in disciplined obedience is to be regarded as my own; but whoever acts in a contrary manner is my enemy.” In this context, King Yudhiṣṭhira—renowned for compassion—would repeatedly tell his brothers and ministers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra was worthy of honor for them all, and that loyalty to the old king’s command was the mark of friendship, while defiance would incur punishment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical governance as loyalty to rightful authority and disciplined conduct: honoring elders (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) is dharma, and social order is maintained by distinguishing obedient allies from those who act contrary and thus merit royal punishment (daṇḍa).
In Āśramavāsika Parva, after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira rules with compassion and repeatedly instructs his brothers and ministers to treat the aged Dhṛtarāṣṭra as venerable; those who follow the old king’s commands are counted as friends, while defiance is treated as enmity.