Shloka 193
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
कोशेन पोरैर्दण्डेन ये चास्य प्रियकारिण: । यदि अपनेमें युद्धकी शक्ति न हो तो मन्त्रियोंके साथ उस आक्रमणकारी राजाकी शरणमें जाय तथा कोश
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | kośena pauraiḥ daṇḍena ye cāsya priyakāriṇaḥ | yadi ātmany yuddhaśaktir na syāt tadā mantribhiḥ saha tasya ākrāntur rāño śaraṇaṃ vrajet | kośaṃ paurān manuṣyān daṇḍaśaktiṃ ca anyāni ca priyāṇi karmāṇi sarvāṇi samarpya taṃ pratidvandvinaṃ nivartayituṃ yateta |
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच—यदि स्वात्मनि युद्धबलं न पश्येः, तदा मन्त्रिभिः सह तस्य आक्रमकस्य राज्ञः शरणं गच्छेत्। कोशं पौरांश्च दण्डशक्तिं च यच्चान्यत् प्रियं हितकरं च, तत्सर्वमर्पयित्वा तं प्रतिद्वन्द्विनं निवर्तयितुं यतेत।
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the capacity to resist by force is absent, rājadharma may require a pragmatic choice: seek protection through diplomacy and submission, even at the cost of wealth and administrative power, in order to prevent greater destruction and to preserve lives.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra articulates a policy option for a threatened ruler: if war-strength is lacking, approach the aggressor with ministers, offer resources such as treasury, citizens’ support, and coercive authority, and attempt to induce the rival to withdraw.