Shloka 5
Vidura’s Message to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Authorization for Dāna and Public Welfare (विदुरवाक्यम्—दानानुज्ञा)
तात! वहाँ उन महर्षियोंने महात्मा राजा धृतराष्ट्रका मन लगानेके लिये अनेक प्रकारकी धार्मिक कथाएँ कहीं ।। कथान्तरे तु कम्मिंश्चिद् देवर्षिनरिदस्तत: । कथामिमामकथयत् सर्वप्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान्,सब कुछ प्रत्यक्ष देखनेवाले देवर्षि नारदने किसी कथाके प्रसंगमें यह कथा कहनी आरम्भ की
tāta! tatra te mahārṣayaḥ mahātmanaḥ rājñaḥ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya manaḥ samādhātum anekavidhāḥ dhārmikāḥ kathāḥ kathayām āsuḥ. kathāntare tu kammiṃścid devarṣir nāradaḥ tataḥ kathām imām akathayat sarvapratyakṣadarśivān.
“Mahal kong anak! Doon, ang mga dakilang rishi ay nagsalaysay ng sari-saring kuwentong makadiyos at nakapagpapalakas-loob upang patatagin at aliwin ang isip ng marangal na Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Pagkaraan, sa gitna ng isa pang salaysay, ang banal na rishi na si Nārada—na sinasabing tuwirang nakakakita ng lahat ng bagay—ay nagsimulang magkuwento ng ganitong pangyayari.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic method of healing and guidance: the mind burdened by grief and consequence is steadied through righteous narratives and the counsel of realized sages, suggesting that ethical reflection and sacred storytelling can restore inner balance.
Vaiśampāyana reports that the assembled seers tell Dhṛtarāṣṭra various dharma-centered stories to console him; then, as the narration shifts, the divine sage Nārada—described as all-seeing—begins to recount a particular story.