Shloka 31
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
स एव भक्त: स गुरु: स भर्ता सवैपिता सच माता सुद्ृच्च । अगाधबुद्धि्विंदुरो दीर्घदर्शी स नो मन्त्री कुशलं तं सम पृच्छे:
sa eva bhaktaḥ sa guruḥ sa bhartā saiva pitā sa ca mātā sudṛḍhaḥ | agādhabuddhir vinduro dīrghadarśī sa no mantrī kuśalaṃ taṃ sama pṛccheḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Siya lamang ang tunay na deboto; siya lamang ang guro; siya lamang ang tagapagtanggol at tagapagtaguyod; siya’y gaya ng ama at gaya rin ng ina—matatag at mapagkakatiwalaan. Malalim ang pag-unawa, matalas ang paghatol, at malayo ang tanaw; siya ang aming tagapayo. Tanungin mo siya, nang may nararapat na paggalang, tungkol sa kung ano ang mabuti at kapaki-pakinabang para sa amin.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound action in crisis should be sought from a counsellor who is steadfast, deeply intelligent, discerning, and far-sighted—someone whose loyalty and care are as comprehensive as that of a teacher, protector, and even parents.
In the Udyoga Parva’s deliberations before war, Yudhiṣṭhira emphasizes the exceptional worth of a particular adviser and urges that he be respectfully consulted about what will truly serve their welfare.