Shloka 11
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
विकल्पा बहुधा राजन्नापदां पाण्डुनन्दन । सामादिभिरुपन्यस्य गणयेत् तान् नृप: सदा,राजन! पाण्डुनन्दन! उन आपत्तियोंके अनेक प्रकारके विकल्प हैं। राजा साम आदि उपायोंद्वारा उन सबको सामने लाकर सदा गिने
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | vikalpā bahudhā rājann āpadāṃ pāṇḍunandana | sāmādibhir upanyasya gaṇayet tān nṛpaḥ sadā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra disse: “Ó rei, alegria dos Pāṇḍus, as calamidades admitem muitos caminhos alternativos. O governante deve trazer continuamente essas possibilidades à mente—pela conciliação e pelas demais medidas da arte de governar—e mantê-las cuidadosamente avaliadas.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should not face crises impulsively; he must enumerate and evaluate multiple options, applying the recognized tools of governance—starting with conciliation and extending to other measures—so that action remains deliberate and ethically accountable.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a Pāṇḍava king (Pāṇḍunandana), offering counsel on kingship: in times of danger, the king should systematically consider various alternatives and employ the standard political expedients (sāma and others) with constant vigilance.