Shloka 4
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
वैशम्पायन उवाच स प्रसन्नमनास्तेन परिपृष्टो द्विजोत्तम: । उवाच वचन तीक्ष्णं राजशास्त्रार्थदर्शनम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! राजा धृतराष्ट्रके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर विप्रवर कणिक मन-ही-मन बहुत प्रसन्न हुए तथा राजनीतिके सिद्धान्तका परिचय देनेवाली तीखी बात कहने लगे--
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: sa prasannamanās tena paripṛṣṭo dvijottamaḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ rājaśāstrārthadarśanam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang tanungin siya nang gayon, ang pinakamainam sa mga “dalawang ulit na isinilang” (ang Brahmin) ay lihim na natuwa at nagsimulang magsalita ng matatalim na salita—mga salitang naglalantad ng diwa at praktikal na simulain ng agham ng pamamahala. Ipinapakita ng tagpong ito na ang payo ay hindi laging banayad na pag-aliw, kundi matigas na pagtuturo sa sining ng estado, kung saan madalas sumisiklab ang tensiyong etikal sa pagitan ng kapakinabangan at katuwiran.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse signals that the forthcoming counsel will be grounded in rājaśāstra—practical statecraft—and will be tīkṣṇa, i.e., unsparing. It highlights a recurring Mahābhārata tension: political effectiveness may be taught in a way that challenges or tests ethical ideals, requiring the listener to discern dharma amid expedient advice.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that, after Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions him, the Brahmin Kaṇika feels pleased and begins delivering sharp instruction that explicates principles of kingship and governance. This verse functions as a transition into Kaṇika’s pointed political discourse.