Mahabharata 4.4.19 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 4, Shloka 19
Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)
बुद्धिमान् पुरुषको चाहिये कि वह राजाओंकी रानियोंसे मेल-जोल न करे और जो रनिवासमें आते-जाते हों, राजा जिनसे द्वेष रखते हों तथा जो लोग राजाका अहित चाहनेवाले हों, उनसे भी मैत्री स्थापित न करे ।।
dhaugyā uvāca | buddhimān puruṣaḥ kāryaḥ yathā rājñāṃ rājñībhiḥ saṃsargaṃ na kuryāt, antaḥpure ye ca gacchanti āgacchanti, rājñā yeṣu dveṣaḥ, ye ca rājño 'hitaṃ kāṅkṣanti, taiḥ saha maitrīṃ na kuryāt || vidite cāsya kurvīta kāryāṇi sulaghūny api | evaṃ vicarato rājñi na kṣatir jāyate kvacit ||
Dhaumya disse: “Um homem prudente deve evitar a convivência íntima com as rainhas dos reis. Também não deve fazer amizade com os que entram e saem dos aposentos internos, com aqueles de quem o rei não gosta, nem com pessoas que desejam o mal do rei. Até as menores tarefas devem ser feitas somente após informar o rei. Quem assim se conduz na corte real não incorre em dano em lugar algum.”
धौग्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain strict prudence in royal service: avoid intimate ties with the queen’s quarters and with politically dangerous persons, and keep the king informed even about minor actions. This minimizes suspicion, intrigue, and personal risk.
A counselor figure (Dhaugyā) gives practical guidance on how to behave safely at a king’s court, warning against associations that can trigger royal suspicion or entangle one in palace politics.
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