Shloka 33
Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)
युधिछिर उवाच धन्या वयं यदस्माकं स्नेहकारुण्ययन्त्रिता: । असतोडपि गुणानाहु्ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा: प्रजा:,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--हमलोग धन्य हैं; क्योंकि ब्राह्मण आदि प्रजावर्गके लोग हमारे प्रति स्नेह और करुणाके पाशमें बँधकर जो गुण हमारे अंदर नहीं हैं, उन गुणोंको भी हममें बतला रहे हैं
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: dhanyā vayaṃ yad asmākaṃ snehakāruṇya-yantritāḥ | asato 'pi guṇān āhur brāhmaṇa-pramukhāḥ prajāḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “De fato somos afortunados, pois o povo—guiado pelos brāhmaṇas—é movido e como que constrangido pelo afeto e pela compaixão para conosco. Por essa ternura, chegam até a atribuir-nos virtudes que, na verdade, não existem em nós.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical humility: a ruler should recognize that praise from society may arise from affection and compassion rather than objective merit, and should not become intoxicated by undeserved acclaim.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on how the populace—especially the brāhmaṇas—speak well of the Pāṇḍavas. He interprets their praise as driven by sympathy, even attributing to them virtues they may not truly possess.