Shloka 30
शान्ति पर्व (अध्याय 38): युधिष्ठिरस्य राजधर्म-जिज्ञासा तथा भीष्मोपसर्पण-प्रस्तावना | Shanti Parva Chapter 38: Yudhishthira’s Inquiry into Rajadharma and the Prelude to Approaching Bhishma
युधिछिर उवाच प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे प्रणतस्याभियाचत: । प्रत्यासन्नव्यसनिनं न मां धिक्कर्तुमर्हथ,तत्पश्चात् राजा युधिष्ठिरने कहा--ब्राह्मणो! मैं आपके चरणोंमें प्रणाम करके विनीतभावसे यह प्रार्थना करता हूँ कि आपलोग मुझपर प्रसन्न हों। इस समय मुझपर सब ओरसे बड़ी भारी विपत्ति आ गयी है; अत: आपलोग मुझे थिक्कार न दें
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prasīdantu bhavanto me praṇatasya abhiyācataḥ | pratyāsanna-vyasaninaṃ na māṃ dhikkartum arhatha ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच—प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे प्रणतस्याभियाचतः । प्रत्यासन्नव्यसनिनं न मां धिक्कर्तुमर्हथ ॥
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a king should approach elders with humility in times of crisis; ethical counsel is sought not through pride but through respectful supplication, and condemnation is less helpful than compassionate guidance.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira—overwhelmed by imminent distress after the great war—addresses revered brāhmaṇas/elders, bows to them, and asks them to be pleased and not to reproach him while he seeks counsel.