Shloka 8
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
स भवान् धर्मपुत्रेण शमं कर्तुमिहाहति । पाण्डवा: कुरवश्चैव पालयन्तु वसुंधराम्
sa bhavān dharmaputreṇa śamaṃ kartum ihāhati | pāṇḍavāḥ kuravaś caiva pālayantu vasuṃdharām, rājan |
Kaṇva berkata: “Wahai raja, sewajarnya tuanku berdamai di sini dengan Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira). Aku menghendaki agar kedua-dua pihak—Pāṇḍava dan Kuru—bersama-sama melindungi dan memerintah bumi ini.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds rājanīti grounded in dharma: a king should prefer reconciliation over conflict, and ensure the welfare of the realm by enabling even rival kinsmen to share responsibility for protecting the earth.
Kaṇva addresses the king (in context, a Kuru ruler) and urges him to conclude a peace with Yudhiṣṭhira, proposing that both Pāṇḍavas and Kurus jointly govern and safeguard the kingdom rather than proceed toward destructive war.