Shloka 17

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest

Devanagari script

साधुसंग्रहणाच्चैव पापनिग्रहणात्‌ तथा । दुर्बलाश्ैव सततं नान्वेष्टव्या बलीयसा,अच्छे पुरुषोंसे मेल-जोल बढ़ाये और दुष्टोंकोी कैद करके उन्हें दण्ड दे। महाबली नरेशको दुर्बल शत्रुके पीछे सदा नहीं पड़े रहना चाहिये

Transliteration

sādhusaṅgrahaṇāc caiva pāpanigrahaṇāt tathā | durbalāś caiva satataṃ nānveṣṭavyā balīyasā ||

Translation

Hendaklah seseorang memperbanyak pergaulan dengan orang yang berbudi, dan juga mengekang orang jahat dengan kurungan serta hukuman. Seorang raja yang perkasa tidak wajar terus-menerus mengejar musuh yang lemah; kekuatannya lebih baik ditumpukan untuk menegakkan ketertiban dan melindungi negeri.

Word by Word

साधुwith/through the good (virtuous person)

संग्रहणात्from association/collection (keeping company)

चand

एवindeed/just

पापof the wicked/sinful (people)

निग्रहणात्from restraint/suppression (punishing/curbing)

तथाso/likewise

दुर्बलाःthe weak (ones/enemies)

एवonly/indeed

सततम्always/constantly

नnot

अन्वेष्टव्याःare not to be pursued/sought

बलीयसाby the stronger (person/king)

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s duty is twofold: strengthen society by supporting the good, and protect it by restraining wrongdoers; strategic restraint is also advised—do not waste power in incessantly pursuing a weak foe.

What is happening in the narrative?

A senior voice offers counsel on kingship and policy: promote the virtuous, punish the wicked, and exercise measured strategy rather than obsessive pursuit of minor threats.