Shloka 38
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
अलंकृता वस्त्रवत्य: सुगन्धा अबीभत्सा: सुखिता भोगवत्य: । लघु यासां दर्शनं वाक् च लघ्वी वेशस्त्रिय: कुशल तात पृच्छे:
alaṅkṛtā vastravatyaḥ sugandhā abībhatsāḥ sukhitā bhogavatyaḥ | laghu yāsāṃ darśanaṃ vāk ca laghvī veśastriyaḥ kuśala tāta pṛccheḥ ||
युधिष्ठिर म्हणाला— “प्रिय संजय, वेश-भूषा व शृंगाराची सेवा करणाऱ्या त्या स्त्रियांचीही कुशलवार्ता विचार—ज्यांचे दर्शन मनोहर, वाणी मधुर; ज्या अलंकारांनी नटलेल्या, उत्तम वस्त्रांनी शोभणाऱ्या, सुगंधित; घृणास्पद वर्तनरहित, सुखी आणि भोग-सामग्रीने सम्पन्न आहेत।”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, Yudhiṣṭhira maintains dhārmic conduct by inquiring after the welfare of all connected to the court, including service staff; ethical leadership includes concern for the well-being of every rank.
In the Udyoga Parva context of negotiations and impending war, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Sañjaya about the well-being of various people at the Kuru court; here he specifically asks about women responsible for dress and adornment who serve in the royal household.