Shloka 13
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
तस्या: प्रमोक्षे यत्नं च कुर्या: सोपायमन्त्रवित् यदि शत्रुकी विपरीत दशा हो और वह संधिके लिये प्रार्थना करे तो संधिविशारद पुरुष उससे उपजाऊ भूमि
tasyāḥ pramokṣe yatnaṃ ca kuryāḥ sopāya-mantra-vit | yadi śatrukī viparīta daśā bhavet sa ca sandheḥ prārthayet tadā sandhi-viśāradaḥ puruṣaḥ tasmād upajāṃ bhūmiṃ suvarṇa-rūpyādi dhātūṃś ca balavantaṃ mitraṃ senāṃ ca gṛhītvā sandhiṃ kuryāt | athavā bharata-śreṣṭha pratidvandvi-rājñaḥ rāja-kumāraṃ svagṛhe jamānatayā sthāpayituṃ ceṣṭeta | viparītaṃ vartanaṃ na śasyate | vatsa yadi kācid āpattir āgacchet tadā yuktôpāya-mantraṇā-jñaḥ tvādṛśo rājā tasmāt pramokṣaṃ yateta || prakṛtīnāṃ ca rājendra rājā dīnān vibhāvayet | rājendra prajā-janeṣu ye dīna-daridrā andha-badhirādayaḥ teṣām api rājā satkāraṃ kuryāt | mahābalī rājā śatroḥ viparīta-krameṇa kramaśaḥ ekataś ca sarvam udyogaṃ ārabheta | sa taṃ pīḍayet tasya gatiṃ avarundhyāt tasya kośaṃ ca nāśayet ||
ドリタラーシュトラは説く。慎重な助言と実際の方策によって、解放を得るために努めよ。敵が不利に陥り、条約を乞うてきたなら、外交に通じた為政者は、確かな担保を得てからのみ和を結ぶべきである――肥沃な土地、金銀その他の金属、そして強き同盟者と兵力の援助である。あるいは、バーラタの最勝者よ、対立する王の子を自邸に留め、質（人質）として置くことを図れ。これに反する振る舞いは誉れではない。もし何らかの危難が起これば、正しい策と議を知る汝のような王は、そこから脱するよう力を尽くすべきである。 さらに言う。王は自国の民をも顧みねばならぬ。民のうち貧しく頼るべなき者――盲者や聾者のような者――にも敬意と庇護を与えよ。敵に対しては、強大な王は、漸次であれ一挙であれ、あらゆる手段を開始せよ――苦しめ、動きを塞ぎ、財庫を滅ぼすのである。
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should combine prudence with ethics: make treaties only with adequate security when an enemy is weakened, protect and honor the poor among his own people, and when necessary apply decisive pressure on an enemy by restricting movement and crippling finances.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is giving counsel on kingship and policy—how to negotiate peace with a distressed enemy using safeguards, how to care for vulnerable subjects, and how to prosecute hostile action strategically by harassment, blockade, and financial ruin.