Shloka 11
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
ततः स्वाचरणो विप्र: सम्मतो<र्थविशारद: । साम्बाख्यो बहूवृचो राजन् वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे
tataḥ svācaraṇo vipraḥ sammato 'rthaviśāradaḥ | sāmbākhyo bahūvṛco rājan vaktuṃ samupacakrame ||
ਤਦ ਸਦਾਚਾਰੀ, ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਣਯੋਗ ਅਤੇ ਅਰਥ-ਤੱਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਪੁਣ, ਸਾਂਬ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਬਹ੍ਵ੍ਰਿਚ (ਗਵੇਦ-ਪਾਠੀ) ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ, ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ, ਬੋਲਣ ਲਈ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਿਆ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical authority of speech: counsel should come from one grounded in right conduct (svācaraṇa) and true understanding (arthaviśārada). It also models dharmic decorum—honoring the king and harmonizing the assembly before speaking.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a learned Brahmin named Sāmba, a Ṛgvedic specialist, who—after paying respect to the king and pleasing the gathered court—begins his address, setting up the counsel that follows.