Mahabharata 1.147.20 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 147, Shloka 20
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 147 — Kanyā-paridevita
The daughter’s lament on lineage and protection
न चैनानन्वबुध्यन्त नरा नगरवासिन: । अन्यत्र विदुरामात्यात् तस्मात् खनकसत्तमात्,विदुरके मन्त्री और खोदाईके काममें श्रेष्ठ उस खनकको छोड़कर नगरके निवासी भी पाण्डवोंके विषयमें कुछ नहीं जान पाते थे
na cainān anvabudhyanta narā nagaravāsinaḥ | anyatra vidurāmātyāt tasmāt khanakasattamāt ||
നഗരവാസികളായ ആളുകൾക്ക് പാണ്ഡവരെക്കുറിച്ച് ഒന്നും അറിവായില്ല; വിദുരന്റെ മന്ത്രിയായ ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ഖനകനെയൊഴികെ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical power of loyal, discreet service: when dharma is threatened, trustworthy allies and careful secrecy can safeguard the righteous without drawing harm upon the wider public.
The city residents remain unaware of the Pāṇḍavas’ circumstances; only Vidura’s trusted agent—the expert miner involved in the digging—knows, indicating a covert operation kept hidden from the public.
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