Shloka 25
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
हस्त्यारोहा रथिन: सादिनश्न पदातयश्चार्यसड्घा महान्त: । आख्याय मां कुशलिन सम नित्य- मनामयं परिपृच्छे: समग्रान्
hastyārohā rathinaḥ sādinaś ca padātayaś cāryasaṅghā mahāntaḥ | ākhyāya māṁ kuśalinaḥ samaṁ nityam anāmayam paripṛccheḥ samagrān ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Di sana ada penunggang gajah, pahlawan kereta perang, penunggang kuda, askar pejalan kaki, serta perhimpunan besar para tua-tua yang mulia. Setelah menyampaikan bahawa aku selamat dan sejahtera, hendaklah engkau bertanya dengan lengkap tentang kesihatan dan bebasnya mereka daripada penyakit.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending conflict, a righteous leader maintains concern for the well-being of all—soldiers of every arm and respected elders alike—showing impartiality, courtesy, and responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger to convey that he is safe and then to ask after the health of everyone present on the other side—elephant corps, chariot fighters, cavalry, infantry, and the gathered eminent elders—reflecting diplomatic propriety before war.