Mahabharata 1.231.4 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 231, Shloka 4
स्तम्बमित्र उवाच ज्येष्ठस्तातो भवति वै ज्येष्ठो मुजचति कृच्छृत: । ज्येष्ठश्नेन्न प्रजानाति कनीयान् कि करिष्यति
stambhamitra uvāca | jyeṣṭhas tāto bhavati vai jyeṣṭho muñcati kṛcchrataḥ | jyeṣṭhaś cen na prajānāti kanīyān kiṁ kariṣyati ||
Stambhamitra berkata: “Abang sulung benar-benar seperti bapa; abang sulunglah yang menyelamatkan daripada kesusahan. Tetapi jika si sulung sendiri tidak memahami bahaya yang bakal datang dan cara melindungi diri daripadanya, apakah yang mampu dilakukan oleh adik?”
स्तम्बमित्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the dharma of seniority: the eldest sibling bears father-like responsibility to guide and protect. If the one entrusted with foresight and leadership lacks discernment, those dependent on him are left without refuge—highlighting the ethical weight of leadership.
Stambhamitra is making an argument about family hierarchy and reliance: the younger depends on the elder for rescue from danger. He stresses that when the elder fails to recognize impending threats and the means to avert them, the younger has little capacity to act independently.
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