Shloka 3
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
“तात! जाओ, परम बुद्धिमती और दूरदर्शिनी गान्धारीदेवीको यहाँ बुला लाओ। मैं उसीके साथ इस दुर्बुद्धिको समझा-बुझाकर राहपर लानेकी चेष्टा करूँगा ।।
tāta! yāhi, paramabuddhimatīṃ dūradarśinīṃ gāndhārīdevīm iha ānaya. aham asyāḥ sārdhaṃ imaṃ durbuddhiṃ samyak samāśvāsya mārge pratiṣṭhāpayituṃ yatnaṃ kariṣyāmi. yadi sāpi durātmānaṃ śamayet duṣṭacetasaṃ, api kṛṣṇasya suhṛdaḥ śāsanaṃ vayaṃ pālayituṃ śaknumaḥ.
ویشَمپایَن نے کہا—“بیٹے! جاؤ؛ نہایت دانا اور دوراندیش ملکہ گاندھاری دیوی کو یہاں بلا لاؤ۔ میں اُن کے ساتھ مل کر اس کج فہم کو سمجھا بجھا کر راہِ راست پر لانے کی کوشش کروں گا۔ اگر وہ بھی اُس بدباطن، بد نیت دُرآتما کو پرسکون کر سکے، تو ہم اپنے خیرخواہ شری کرشن کے حکم کی تعمیل کر سکیں گے۔”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when someone is obstinate and ill-intentioned, dharmic leadership first attempts restraint and reform through wise counsel—especially by those whose moral authority can reach the offender. The verse also frames ethical action as fidelity to a righteous well-wisher’s instruction (here, Kṛṣṇa’s).
In the peace-effort setting of the Udyoga Parva, a messenger is told to bring Queen Gāndhārī. The speaker intends to join her in advising and pacifying the misguided Kaurava leader (implicitly Duryodhana), hoping that her influence will make it possible to fulfill Kṛṣṇa’s directive aimed at preventing war.