Shloka 16
Arjuna Restores a Brāhmaṇa’s Cattle and Accepts Forest Exile
Satya-vrata at Khaṇḍavaprastha
विदुर उवाच राजजउ्छूणु सहामात्य: सपुत्रश्न वचो मम | धृतराष्ट्र: सपुत्रस्त्वां सहामात्य: सबान्धव:,विदुरने कहा--राजन्! आप अपने मन्त्रियों और पुत्रोंके साथ मेरी बात सुनें। महाराज धृतराष्ट्रने अपने पुत्र, मन््त्री और बन्धुओंके साथ अत्यन्त प्रसन्न होकर बारंबार आपकी कुशल पूछी है। महाराज! आपके साथ यह जो सम्बन्ध हुआ है, इससे उनको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई है
vidura uvāca rājann śṛṇu sahāmātyaḥ saputraś ca vaco mama | dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputras tvāṃ sahāmātyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vidura: “O Hari, pakinggan ninyo ang aking mga salita, kasama ng inyong mga ministro at mga anak. Si Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra—kasama ang kanyang mga anak, mga ministro, at mga kamag-anak—ay paulit-ulit at may malaking galak na nagtanong tungkol sa inyong kalagayan. O Hari, lubha siyang nasiyahan sa ugnayang nabuo sa pagitan ninyo at niya.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vidura models ethical statecraft: counsel should be heard publicly and responsibly (with ministers and heirs present), and political relationships should be maintained through courteous inquiry into welfare and clear communication of goodwill.
Vidura addresses a king and asks him to listen along with his ministers and sons. He conveys that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with his sons, ministers, and relatives, is pleased and has repeatedly asked after the king’s well-being, expressing happiness about the newly formed relationship between them.