Shloka 26
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
तथा रज्ञो हार्थयुक्तानमात्यान् दौवारिकान् ये च सेनां नयन्ति । आयदव्ययं ये गणयन्ति नित्य- मर्थाश्न ये महतश्षिन्तयन्ति,जो राजाके हितकर कार्योमें लगे हुए मन्त्री, द्वारपाल, सेनानायक, आय-व्ययनिरीक्षक तथा निरन्तर बड़े-बड़े कार्यों एवं प्रश्नोंपर विचार करनेवाले हैं, उनसे भी कुशल-समाचार पूछना
tathā rājño hārthayuktān amātyān dauvārikān ye ca senāṃ nayanti | āyadavyayaṃ ye gaṇayanti nityam arthāś ca ye mahataś cintayanti ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Do mesmo modo, indaga pelo bem-estar dos ministros do rei, encarregados das questões de receita e de governo; dos porteiros; e dos que conduzem o exército. Pergunta também por aqueles que continuamente calculam entradas e saídas, e por aqueles que deliberam sem cessar sobre grandes assuntos e questões de peso.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes attentive care for the officials who sustain the kingdom—ministers, guards, commanders, and accountants. Their welfare and conscientious performance are essential for just governance and the orderly pursuit of artha without violating dharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy context, Yudhiṣṭhira outlines proper royal conduct and protocol: one should inquire about the well-being of key functionaries responsible for security, military leadership, and financial administration, emphasizing the practical foundations of a stable polity.