Shloka 4
Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)
कच्चिन्न्यायाननुच्छिद्य कोशस्ते$भिप्रपूर्यते । अरिमध्यस्थमित्रेषु वर्तसे चानुरूपत:
kaccin nyāyān anucchidya kośas te 'bhiprapūryate | ari-madhyastha-mitreṣu vartase cānurūpataḥ ||
ਧ੍ਰਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਕੀ ਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਉਲੰਘਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਤੇਰਾ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਭਰਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ? ਅਤੇ ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਵੈਰੀ, ਤਟਸਥ ਅਤੇ ਮਿੱਤਰ—ਹਰ ਇੱਕ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਕੂਲ ਯਥੋਚਿਤ ਵਰਤਾਵ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ?
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal prosperity must be grounded in nyāya: wealth should be accumulated through lawful, non-exploitative means, and a ruler must practice discerning, appropriate conduct toward enemies, neutrals, and allies—neither unjust aggression nor misplaced favoritism.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra poses a traditional rājadharma-style inquiry, checking whether the addressee’s governance is ethically sound: (1) the treasury is being filled without violating justice, and (2) diplomatic and social dealings with different categories of people—enemy, neutral, friend—are being handled suitably.