Shloka 56
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
वृद्धिक्षयौ च विज्ञेयौ स्थानं च कुरुसत्तम | युधिष्ठिर! तुम इस मण्डलको अच्छी तरह जानो; क्योंकि राज्यकी रक्षाके संधि-विग्रह आदि छ: उपायोंका उचित उपभोग इन्हींके अधीन है। कुरुश्रेष्ठ! राजाको चाहिये कि वह अपनी वृद्धि
vṛddhikṣayau ca vijñeyau sthānaṃ ca kurusattama | yudhiṣṭhira! tvaṃ imaṃ maṇḍalaṃ suṣṭhu vijānīhi; yataḥ rājyasya rakṣaṇe sandhi-vigrahādayaḥ ṣaḍupāyāḥ samyagupabhogaḥ etad-adhīnaḥ | kurūśreṣṭha! rājñā nityaṃ svavṛddhi-kṣaya-sthiti-jñānaṃ kartavyam |
知れ、クル族の最勝者よ。何が増益であり、何が減耗であり、また何が安定の位であるかを。ユディシュティラよ、この政道の輪をよく究めよ。国を護るための、和と戦に始まる六つの方策の正しい運用は、これに依るからである。ゆえに、クル族の魁よ、王は常に自らの伸長・損失・安定を正確に把握していなければならぬ。
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must continually assess three realities—growth (vṛddhi), decline (kṣaya), and stable position (sthāna). Only with this clear self-knowledge can he correctly apply the six instruments of policy (ṣaḍupāya) such as peace (sandhi) and war (vigraha) to protect the kingdom.
An elder adviser addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, instructing him in practical rajadharma: to understand the political ‘circle’ (maṇḍala) and to govern by informed judgment, using diplomatic and military options appropriately based on the kingdom’s current condition.