Shloka 48
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
न पृष्ठत: करिष्यन्ति पौरा जानपदा जना: । “आपका प्रजाके साथ जो स्नेह था, उसे युधिष्ठिरने और भी बढ़ा दिया है। नगर और जनपदके लोग आपलोगोंके इस प्रजा-प्रेमकी कभी अवहेलना नहीं करेंगे ।।
na pṛṣṭhataḥ kariṣyanti paurā jānapadā janāḥ | āpakā prajāke sātha yo sneha thā, use yudhiṣṭhirane aur bhī baṛhā diyā hai | nagara aura janapadake log āpalogoṃke isa prajā-prema kī kabhī avahēlanā nahīṃ kareṅge || adharmiṣṭhān api sataḥ kuntī-putrā mahā-rathāḥ
毗湿摩波耶那说：“城中百姓与乡野之民，决不会背弃诸位。诸位对臣民所怀的慈爱——由坚陀罗之子优提士提罗更使之益增。城里的人与诸邦之众，永不会轻慢诸位这份爱民之心。”即便那些或被视作“最不合正法”的人，实则亦是伟大的战车勇士——昆蒂之子们——在其本性之善中坚定不移。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy rests on sustained care for the people: when affection for the subjects (prajā-sneha/prajā-prema) is genuine and strengthened by righteous governance, the citizens and provincial communities respond with enduring loyalty and respect, rather than neglect or contempt.
Vaiśampāyana reports a reassurance that the urban citizens and rural inhabitants will not abandon or slight the leaders, because the bond of care for the populace has been preserved and even intensified under Yudhiṣṭhira; the passage also affirms the essential worth of Kuntī’s sons as great heroes despite any accusations of unrighteousness.