Shloka 9
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
पुरोहित धृतराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञ- स्तथा55चायनित्विजो ये च तस्य । तैश्न त्वं तात सहितैर्य थाई संगच्छेथा: कुशलेनैव सूत
purohitaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rājñas tathācāryān ṛtvijo ye ca tasya | taiś ca tvaṃ tāta sahitair yathā saṃgacchethāḥ kuśalenāiva sūta tāta saṃjaya |
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Saṃjaya yang dikasihi, pemandu kereta! Apabila engkau bertemu pendeta keluarga Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, para gurunya, serta para ṛtvij—pendeta pelaksana upacara yang berkhidmat kepadanya—hampirilah mereka dengan adab yang wajar dan niat baik. Bagi pihak kami, sampaikan salam dengan bertanya khabar kesejahteraan mereka sahaja—agar walau pertikaian kian memuncak, kesantunan dharma dan tutur kata yang hormat tidak ditinggalkan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when hostility is imminent, one should uphold dharma through respectful conduct and restrained speech—beginning with courteous inquiry into others’ welfare, especially toward elders and religious functionaries.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Saṃjaya on proper etiquette when meeting Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s priestly and teaching circle: Saṃjaya should greet them on the Pāṇḍavas’ behalf by asking after their well-being, maintaining decorum amid tense negotiations.