Shloka 19
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
“राजन! आप जब हमें त्याग देंगे, हमें छोड़कर चले जायँगे, तब हम बहुत दिनोंतक दुःख और शोकमें डूबे रहेंगे। आपके सैकड़ों गुणोंकी याद सदा हमें घेरे रहेगी ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
"rājan! āpa jaba hameṃ tyāga deṅge, hameṃ choṛakara cale jāyaṅge, taba vayaṃ bahu-dināni duḥkha-śoka-nimagnā bhaviṣyāmaḥ | tava śataśo guṇānāṃ smṛtiḥ sadā asmān pariveṣṭayiṣyati ||
yathā śāntanunā guptā rājñā citrāṅgadēna ca |
bhīṣma-vīryopagūḍhena pitrā tava ca pārthiva |
"pṛthvīnātha! mahārāja śāntanu tathā rājā citrāṅgada yena prakāreṇa asmān arakṣatām, bhīṣmasya parākramena surakṣitaḥ tava pitā vicitravīryaḥ yena prakāreṇa asmān apālayat, tathā tava paricaryāyāṃ sthitvā pṛthvīpatiḥ pāṇḍuḥ yena prakāreṇa prajāḥ arakṣat—tathā eva rājā duryodhanaḥ api asmān yathāvat apālayat" ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Hari! Kapag iniwan mo kami at lumisan, mananatili kaming matagal na nakalubog sa dalamhati at pagdadalamhati. Ang pag-alaala sa di-mabilang mong kabutihan ay patuloy na babalot sa amin. Kung paanong pinangalagaan kami ni Haring Śāntanu at ni Haring Citrāṅgada; kung paanong iningatan at inaruga kami ng iyong ama na si Vicitravīrya—na pinangangalagaan ng lakas ni Bhīṣma; at kung paanong si Pāṇḍu, panginoon ng lupa, ay nag-ingat sa mga tao habang namumuhay sa ilalim ng iyong pagtingin—gayon din si Haring Duryodhana, sa nararapat na sukat, ay nagtaguyod at nag-alaga sa amin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma: a ruler’s foremost ethical duty is the proper protection and maintenance of dependents and subjects. It also underscores gratitude and moral memory—virtues of a leader continue to guide and console (or haunt) the community even after the leader’s departure.
A speaker, reported by Vaiśampāyana, addresses a king who is about to leave. The speaker expresses impending sorrow and then situates the king within a lineage of protectors—Śāntanu, Citrāṅgada, Vicitravīrya (secured by Bhīṣma), and Pāṇḍu—adding that Duryodhana too, in his time, maintained them properly. The passage functions as a remembrance of past guardianship and a lament at separation.