Shloka 36
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 34 — Vidura’s Counsel on Deliberation, Speech-Discipline, and Dharmic Kingship
प्रह्नमादने कहा--विरोचन! सुधन्वाके पिता अंगिरा मुझसे श्रेष्ठ हैं, सुधन्वा तुमसे श्रेष्ठ है, इसकी माता तुम्हारी मातासे श्रेष्ठ है; अतः तुम आज सुधन्वाके द्वारा जीते गये ।। विरोचन सुधन्वायं प्राणानामी श्वरस्तव । सुधन्वन् पुनरिच्छामि त्वया दत्तं विरोचनम्,विरोचन! अब सुधन्वा तुम्हारे प्राणोंका स्वामी है। सुधन्वन्! अब यदि तुम दे दो तो मैं विरोचनको पाना चाहता हूँ
Prahlāda uvāca—virocana! sudhanvanaḥ pitā aṅgirā mattaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ; sudhanvā tvattaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ; asya mātā tava mātur api śreṣṭhā; ataḥ tvam adya sudhanvanā jitah. virocana! sudhanvāyaṃ prāṇānām īśvaras tava. sudhanvan! punar icchāmi tvayā dattaṃ virocanam.
प्रह्लाद उवाच—विरोचन! सुधन्वनः पिता अङ्गिरा मत्तः श्रेयान्; सुधन्वा त्वत्तः श्रेयान्; मातास्य तव मातुः श्रेयसी; तस्मात् त्वं अद्य सुधन्वना जितः । विरोचन! सुधन्वैव प्राणानामीश्वरस्तव । सुधन्वन्! पुनरिच्छामि त्वया दत्तं विरोचनम् ॥
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Status and authority are grounded in recognized spiritual and ethical superiority (here, linked to lineage and virtue), and one must accept the outcome of a righteous contest without evasion; yet compassion and restitution can be sought through the victor’s consent.
Prahlāda acknowledges that Virocana has lost to Sudhanvan, declaring that Sudhanvan now holds power even over Virocana’s life as the winner of the stake; then Prahlāda appeals to Sudhanvan to grant Virocana back, seeking his son’s restoration by the victor’s mercy.