Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
यश्न वक्षिन्नर: किंचिदप्रियं वाम्बिकासुते,विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है, वही मेरा सुहृद् है। विपरीत आचरण करनेवाला मेरा शत्रु है। वह मेरे दण्डका भागी होगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yaḥ na vakṣyati naraḥ kiñcid apriyaṃ vāmbikāsute, viparītaḥ sa me śatrur niyamya sa bhaven naraḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Any man who does not speak anything unpleasant to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, is dear to me. But whoever behaves in opposition to his command is my enemy; such a person should be restrained and brought under discipline.” (Thus Yudhiṣṭhira, ever compassionate, repeatedly instructed his brothers and ministers to honor Dhṛtarāṣṭra and to treat obedience to him as a measure of loyalty and right conduct.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira frames ethical loyalty as respectful speech and obedient conduct toward the elder king Dhṛtarāṣṭra; harming him by words or defying his authority is treated as adharma and a breach of allegiance, warranting restraint and correction.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to regard Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Ambikā’s son) as worthy of honor; those who comply are counted as friends, while those who act contrary are deemed enemies and are to be disciplined.