Shloka 8
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरोक्तिः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra Addressed on Sincerity, Hospitality, and Settlement
दासीनामप्रजातानां शुभानां रुक्मवर्चसाम् | शतमस्मै प्रदास्यामि दासानामपि तावताम्,साथ ही मैं उन्हें सुवर्णकी-सी कान्तिवाली परम सुन्दरी सौ ऐसी दासियाँ दूँगा, जिनसे किसी संतानकी उत्पत्ति नहीं हुई है। दासियोंके ही बराबर दास भी दूँगा
dāsīnām aprajātānāṁ śubhānāṁ rukmavarcasām | śatam asmai pradāsyāmi dāsānām api tāvatām ||
ഞാൻ അവനു സ്വർണ്ണകാന്തിപോലെ ദീപ്തിയുള്ള, ശുഭലക്ഷണങ്ങളുള്ള, ഇതുവരെ സന്താനം പ്രസവിക്കാത്ത അതിസുന്ദരികളായ നൂറു ദാസിമാരെ നൽകും; അതേ എണ്ണത്തിൽ ദാസന്മാരെയും നൽകും.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension: attempting to resolve a grave ethical and political crisis through material inducements. It implicitly contrasts wealth-based appeasement with the deeper requirement of dharma—fairness, rightful conduct, and accountability.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is proposing lavish gifts—hundreds of servants—to the other party as part of negotiations meant to avert escalation. The offer reflects the court’s diplomatic maneuvering on the eve of war, seeking settlement through concessions rather than addressing the underlying injustice.