Shloka 2
Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation
सर्व कौशल्यमुक्त्वा55दौ पृष्टवा चैवमनामयम् । सर्वसेनाप्रणेतृणां मध्ये वाक्यमुवाच ह,उन्होंने पहले (अपने पक्षके लोगोंका) सारा कुशलसमाचार बताकर धूृतराष्ट्र आदिके स्वास्थ्यका समाचार पूछा, फिर सम्पूर्ण सेनानायकोंके समक्ष इस प्रकार कहा--
sarva-kauśalyam uktvā pr̥ṣṭvā caivam anāmayam | sarva-senā-praṇetr̥ṇāṁ madhye vākyam uvāca ha ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah terlebih dahulu menyampaikan segala khabar kesejahteraan, lalu bertanya dengan hormat tentang kesihatan dan bebasnya mereka daripada penyakit, beliau pun berkata-kata di tengah-tengah semua panglima tentera. Adegan ini menegaskan adab istana: bahkan urusan politik yang berat sekalipun dimulakan dengan pertanyaan sejahtera yang penuh hormat, sebelum menyentuh perkara yang menyangkut tanggungjawab bersama dan pertikaian yang kian mendekat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when the subject is politically charged and war-oriented, dhārmic conduct begins with respect, welfare-inquiry, and measured speech. The verse models a norm of ethical communication: establish goodwill and acknowledge others’ well-being before delivering consequential counsel.
After exchanging formal courtesies—reporting general welfare and asking about the elders’ health—the speaker (contextually an envoy/counsellor figure) addresses the assembled military leadership, indicating a transition from polite preliminaries to a serious public statement before the commanders.