Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
गुरु वा लघु वा कार्य गान्धारी च तपस्विनी । तं स राजा महाराज पाण्डवानां धुरंधर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
guru vā laghu vā kāryaṃ gāndhārī ca tapasvinī |
taṃ sa rājā mahārāja pāṇḍavānāṃ dhuraṃdharaḥ |
viparītakṛc chna me śatrur niyamya kṛc chna bhaven naraḥ |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Maging mabigat man o magaan ang gawain, at kasama si Gāndhārī—isang babaeng namumuhay sa pag-aayuno at pagninilay—si Haring Yudhiṣṭhira, ang dakilang hari at matatag na tagapasan ng pasanin ng mga Pāṇḍava, ay nagtakda ng tuntunin ng asal: “Si Dhṛtarāṣṭra ay karapat-dapat igalang para sa akin at para sa inyong lahat. Ang sinumang nabubuhay sa pagsunod sa kanyang utos ay may mabuting hangarin sa akin; ang sinumang kumilos laban dito ay kaaway ko at tatanggap ng aking parusa.” Sa ganitong paraan, itinuring ni Yudhiṣṭhira ang katapatan at disiplina hindi bilang personal na kagustuhan, kundi bilang tungkuling moral sa matatanda at sa wastong kaayusan sa sambahayan ng kaharian.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira defines ethical governance as disciplined respect toward elders and established authority: honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and treating obedience to him as a marker of friendship, while opposition becomes a breach of order warranting royal correction.
In the Āśramavāsika context, after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to treat Dhṛtarāṣṭra (and by association Gāndhārī) with honor; he sets a clear policy that those who follow Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s directives are allies, and those who defy them will be punished.