Shloka 24
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
प्राच्योदीच्या दाक्षिणात्याश्व शूरा- स्तथा प्रतीच्या: पर्वतीयाश्न सर्वे अनुशंसा: शीलवृत्तोपपन्ना- स्तेषां सर्वेषां कुशलं सूत पृच्छे:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | prācyodīcyā dākṣiṇātyāś ca śūrās tathā pratīcyāḥ parvatīyāś ca sarve | anuśaṃsāḥ śīla-vṛttopapannās teṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ kuśalaṃ sūta pṛcche ||
یُدھِشٹھِر نے کہا—مشرق، شمال، جنوب اور مغرب کے بہادر، اور تمام پہاڑی راجے وہاں حاضر ہیں۔ وہ سب نیک نیت، رحم دل، اور اچھے کردار و درست چال چلن سے آراستہ ہیں۔ اے سوت! میری طرف سے اُن سب کی خیریت و عافیت دریافت کرنا۔
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid preparations for conflict, a dharmic leader maintains courtesy and concern for the well-being of others. The verse highlights ethical kingship: recognizing virtue (śīla, vṛtta) in others and extending respectful welfare-inquiry (kuśala-praśna) rather than reducing people to mere instruments of war.
In the Udyoga Parva context of mobilization and alliances, Yudhiṣṭhira notes that many regional warriors and mountain rulers are assembled. He instructs the sūta (serving as a messenger/attendant) to convey his greetings and ask after the welfare of all those present.