Shloka 33
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
कच्चित् पुत्रा जीवपुत्रा: सुसम्यग् वर्तन्ते वो वृत्तिमनृशंसरूपा: । इति स्मोक््त्वा संजय ब्रूहि पश्चा- दजातशत्रुः कुशली सपुत्र:
kaccit putrā jīvaputrāḥ susamyag vartante vo vṛttim anṛśaṃsarūpāḥ | iti smoktva saṃjaya brūhi paścād ajātaśatruḥ kuśalī saputraḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Sañjaya, tanyakan kepada para wanita tua yang mulia itu: ‘Wahai para Ibu, adakah anak-anak lelaki kalian melayani kalian dengan baik? Adakah timbul kekasaran atau kekejaman dalam diri mereka? Dan adakah kalian semua dikurniai anak-anak lelaki yang panjang umur?’ Setelah berkata demikian, sampaikan kemudian bahawa Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) berada dalam selamat sejahtera, bersama anak-anaknya.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political crisis, dharma is shown through concern for elders and the moral conduct of the young: sons should treat mothers respectfully and remain free from cruelty (anṛśaṃsa). A righteous leader also communicates reassurance and welfare, not merely strategy.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Sañjaya to convey a message to the senior women of the Kuru household: inquire about their well-being and whether their sons behave properly and compassionately, and then report that Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru) is himself safe and well with his sons.