Shloka 18
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
यद् यद् ब्रूते च किंचित् स धृतराष्ट्री जनाधिप:
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
yad yad brūte ca kiṃcit sa dhṛtarāṣṭrī janādhipaḥ |
viparītakaś ca me śatrur niyamyas ca bhaven naraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Anuman ang ipag-utos ni Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra sa alinmang bagay—siya ang panginoon ng bayan—ang sinumang sumunod sa kanya ay dapat ituring na may mabuting hangarin sa akin; ngunit ang sinumang kumilos laban sa kanyang salita ay kaaway ko at dapat pigilan at disiplinahin.” Sa ganitong paraan, si Yudhiṣṭhira, na laging mahinahon at banayad, ay hayagang iniugnay ang sarili niyang kapangyarihan sa paggalang sa matandang hari, at ginawang sukatan ng katapatan at dharma ang pagsunod kay Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority is exercised through humility and dharma: Yudhiṣṭhira treats the elder Dhṛtarāṣṭra as worthy of honor and makes loyalty measurable by obedience to the elder’s rightful commands, while also affirming that disorderly, contrary conduct must be restrained for the sake of social stability.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira governs with deference to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He declares that those who follow Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s instructions are his friends, and those who oppose them are to be treated as enemies and disciplined—showing his commitment to honoring elders and maintaining order.