Mahabharata 1.140.3 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 3
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
ध्ृतराष्ट्र उवाच उत्सिक्ता: पाण्डवा नित्य॑ तेभ्योडसूये द्विजोत्तम । तत्र मे निश्चिततमं संधिविग्रहकारणम् । कणिक त्वं ममाचक्ष्व करिष्ये वचनं तव
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | utsiktāḥ pāṇḍavā nityaṃ tebhyo 'sūye dvijottama | tatra me niścitatamaṃ sandhi-vigraha-kāraṇam | kaṇika tvaṃ mamācakṣva kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ||
Дхритараштра сказал: «О лучший из брахманов, Пандавы день ото дня возрастают в силе и славе; потому я начал им завидовать. Потому реши с твердой уверенностью и скажи мне, что должно стать решающим основанием моего выбора: заключить с ними мир или вступить во вражду? Каника, объяви мне; я поступлю по твоему совету».
ध्ृतराष्ट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how envy (asūyā) can distort a ruler’s judgment, pushing him to frame decisions as mere strategy (peace vs. conflict) rather than as dharmic responsibility. It also shows the ethical weight of counsel: a king’s actions may follow an adviser’s words, so advice must be grounded in righteousness, not in jealousy or fear.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra confesses to the Brahmin counselor Kaṇika that the Pāṇḍavas’ growing success has made him jealous. He asks Kaṇika to decide and explain whether he should pursue reconciliation (sandhi) or hostility (vigraha) with them, promising to follow the advice given.
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