Shloka 28
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
उवाच दुष्कृतं कश्चिद् युधिष्ठिरभयान्नर: । युधिष्ठिरके भयसे कोई भी मनुष्य कभी राजा धृतराष्ट्र और दुर्योधनके कुकृत्योंकी चर्चा नहीं करता था ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
uvāca duṣkṛtaṃ kaścid yudhiṣṭhirabhayān naraḥ |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Dahil sa takot kay Yudhiṣṭhira, walang sinuman ang nangahas magsalita nang malakas tungkol sa mga kasamaan na nagawa. Ang kapangyarihan at dangal-moral ng hari ay gayon na pinipigil ng mga tao ang kanilang pananalita, iniiwasan ang anumang usap na maaaring ituring na mapanlaban o manggugulo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a ruler’s moral and political power shapes public speech: fear can enforce restraint, but it also suppresses open discussion of wrongdoing. It implicitly raises an ethical tension between maintaining order and allowing truthful critique.
Vaiśampāyana describes the social atmosphere under Yudhiṣṭhira’s rule: people, intimidated by the king’s authority, do not openly speak about misdeeds—suggesting a controlled or cautious public discourse in the post-war setting.