Shloka 4
परनेयोडग्रणीर्यस्य स मार्गान् प्रति मुहृति । पन्थानमनुगच्छेयु: कथं तस्य पदानुगा:
paraneyodagraṇīr yasya sa mārgān prati muhūrtī | panthānam anugaccheyuḥ kathaṁ tasya padānugāḥ ||
ドゥルヨーダナは言った。「もし指導者自身が他者の助言に導かれているなら、進むべき道そのものについて幾度も惑うであろう。ならば、その足跡に従う者たちが、どうして揺るがぬ道筋を保てようか。」
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader who lacks independent discernment and is constantly swayed by others becomes confused about the right course; such instability harms the community, because followers cannot maintain a clear path when the guide himself is uncertain.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana is speaking in a politically charged setting and argues about the necessity of firm, self-possessed leadership; he frames dependence on others’ intellect as a cause of repeated delusion, which then misleads one’s followers.