Shloka 48
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
न पृष्ठत: करिष्यन्ति पौरा जानपदा जना: । “आपका प्रजाके साथ जो स्नेह था, उसे युधिष्ठिरने और भी बढ़ा दिया है। नगर और जनपदके लोग आपलोगोंके इस प्रजा-प्रेमकी कभी अवहेलना नहीं करेंगे ।। अधर्मिष्ठानपि सतः कुन्तीपुत्रा महारथा:
na pṛṣṭhataḥ kariṣyanti paurā jānapadā janāḥ | āpakā prajāke sātha yo sneha thā, use yudhiṣṭhirane aur bhī baṛhā diyā hai | nagara aura janapadake log āpalogoṃke isa prajā-prema kī kabhī avahēlanā nahīṃ kareṅge || adharmiṣṭhān api sataḥ kuntī-putrā mahā-rathāḥ
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「都の民も郷の民も、決してあなたがたに背を向けはしない。あなたがたが臣民に注いだ慈愛は、ユディシュティラによってさらに増し加えられた。町の者も諸国の民も、あなたがたのこの民への愛を決して軽んじないであろう。」そして、たとえ「最も不義に近い」と見なされる者でさえ、真実には偉大なる戦車武者—クンティーの子ら—本性の善に堅く立つ者たちである。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy rests on sustained care for the people: when affection for the subjects (prajā-sneha/prajā-prema) is genuine and strengthened by righteous governance, the citizens and provincial communities respond with enduring loyalty and respect, rather than neglect or contempt.
Vaiśampāyana reports a reassurance that the urban citizens and rural inhabitants will not abandon or slight the leaders, because the bond of care for the populace has been preserved and even intensified under Yudhiṣṭhira; the passage also affirms the essential worth of Kuntī’s sons as great heroes despite any accusations of unrighteousness.