Shloka 45
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
ये चाप्यन्ये संश्रिता धार्तराष्ट्रान् नानादिग्भ्यो5 भ्यागता: सूतपुत्र । दृष्टवा तांश्चैवार्हतश्चापि सर्वान् सम्पृच्छेथा: कुशलं चाव्ययं च
ye cāpy anye saṁśritā dhārtarāṣṭrān nānādibhyo 'bhyāgatāḥ sūtaputra | dṛṣṭvā tāṁś caivārhataś cāpi sarvān sampṛcchethāḥ kuśalaṁ cāvyayaṁ ca, sūtaputra ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Dan ada juga yang lain—orang-orang yang datang dari pelbagai wilayah lalu berlindung pada putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Apabila engkau melihat mereka, dan sesungguhnya semua yang patut dimuliakan, hendaklah engkau menyapa mereka dan bertanya tentang kesejahteraan mereka—serta sama ada mereka tetap selamat dan tidak ditimpa mudarat, wahai putera sais kereta.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid political tension, one should uphold dharma through proper etiquette: honoring those worthy of respect and inquiring after their welfare and safety. The verse emphasizes humane, courteous conduct as part of righteous statecraft.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Karṇa (called Sūtaputra), referring to various people who have come from different regions and aligned themselves with the Kauravas. He instructs that, upon meeting these honorable persons, Karṇa should ask about their well-being and whether they remain unharmed.