Shloka 17
Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)
नेयमस्ति मही कृत्स्ना यत्र दुर्योधनो नृप: । साधु गच्छामहे सर्वे यत्र गच्छन्ति पाण्डवा:,जहाँ दुर्योधन राजा है, वहाँकी यह सारी पृथ्वी नहींके बराबर है, अत: यही ठीक होगा कि हम सब लोग वहीं चलें जहाँ पाण्डव जा रहे हैं
neyam asti mahī kṛtsnā yatra duryodhano nṛpaḥ | sādhu gacchāmahe sarve yatra gacchanti pāṇḍavāḥ ||
దుర్యోధనుడు రాజుగా ఉన్న చోట ఈ సమస్త భూమి కూడా విలువలేనిది; కాబట్టి పాండవులు వెళ్లే చోటకే మనమందరం వెళ్లడం శ్రేయస్కరం।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that a realm ruled by an unrighteous king is ethically worthless; it is better to align oneself with the side associated with dharma (here, the Pāṇḍavas), even if that means leaving power, comfort, or territory.
Vaiśampāyana reports a resolve that remaining in a land dominated by Duryodhana is undesirable; the speakers decide it is proper for all of them to go where the Pāṇḍavas are headed, indicating a shift of allegiance and a willingness to share their exile-like path.