Shloka 39
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
दास्य: स्युर्या ये च दासा: कुरूणां तदाश्रया बहव: कुब्जखजञ्जा: | आखूयाय मां कुशलिन सम तेभ्यो- 5प्यनामयं परिपृच्छेर्जघन्यम्
dāsyāḥ syur yā ye ca dāsāḥ kurūṇāṃ tadāśrayā bahavaḥ kubja-khañjāḥ | ākhyūyāya māṃ kuśalinaṃ samaṃ tebhyo 'py anāmayaṃ paripṛccher jaghanyam ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच—ये च कुरूणां दासाः दास्यश्च, तेषां चाश्रिताः बहवः कुब्जखञ्जाश्च ये वसन्ति, तान् सर्वान् मम कुशलं निवेद्य; अन्ते च मम वचनात् तेषामपि कुशलानामयं परिपृच्छेः।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic leadership and compassion: a righteous person extends concern beyond elites to servants and vulnerable dependents, inquiring after their welfare without discrimination.
In the Udyoga Parva’s diplomatic context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs that his well-being be conveyed and that greetings and welfare-inquiries be extended even to the Kuru household’s servants and physically disabled dependents, emphasizing inclusive regard.