12.041
Core and Pancharatra-Ext: Yudhishthira declares Dhritarashtra to be respected at all times and then allocates portfolios to govern the kingdom.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
prakṛtīnāṃ tu tadvākyaṃ deśakālopasaṃhitam। śrutvā yudhiṣṭhiro rājāthottaraṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥12-41-1॥
But when King Yudhishthira heard the ministers' speech, which was appropriate to the place and time, he then gave his reply.
dhanyāḥ pāṇḍusutā loke yeṣāṃ brāhmaṇapuṅgavāḥ। tathyānvāpyatha vātathyānguṇānāhuḥ samāgatāḥ ॥12-41-2॥
In this world, blessed are the sons of Pāṇḍu, for among them, even the foremost Brāhmaṇas, whether truthful or not, have gathered and proclaimed their virtues.
anugrāhyā vayaṃ nūnaṃ bhavatāmiti me matiḥ। yatraivaṃ guṇasampannān asmān brūtha vimatsarāḥ ॥12-41-3॥
My thought is that we are indeed to be favored by you. For, when you, free from envy, speak to us who are endowed with such virtues, it is so.
dhṛtarāṣṭro mahārājaḥ pitā no daivataṃ param। sāśane'sya priye caiva stheyaṃ matpriyakāṅkṣibhiḥ ॥12-41-4॥
Dhritarashtra, the great king and our father, is regarded as the supreme deity. Those who desire my favor should remain loyal both to his rule and to what he holds dear.
etad-arthaṃ hi jīvāmi kṛtvā jñāti-vadhaṃ mahat | asya śuśrūṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ mayā nityam-atandriṇā ॥12-41-5॥
Indeed, I live for this very purpose; having committed the great act of killing my relatives, it is my constant duty to serve him tirelessly.
yadi cāham-anugrāhyo bhavatāṃ suhṛdāṃ tataḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭre yathā-pūrvaṃ vṛttiṃ vartitum-arhatha ॥12-41-6॥
If you consider me worthy of your favor, O friends, then you should continue to behave towards Dhritarashtra as you did before.
eṣa nātho hi jagato bhavatāṃ ca mayā saha। asyaiva pṛthivī kṛtsnā pāṇḍavāḥ sarva eva ca ॥ etan manasi kartavyaṃ bhavadbhiḥ vacanaṃ mama ॥12-41-7॥
This is the lord of the world, of you and with me. The entire earth belongs to him alone, as do all the Pāṇḍavas. You must keep my word in mind and act accordingly.
anugamya ca rājānaṃ yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāmiti। paurajānapadānsarvānvisṛjya kurunandanaḥ ॥ yauvarājyena kauravyo bhīmasenamayojayat ॥12-41-8॥
After approaching the king and saying, 'Let him go as he wishes,' and dismissing all the citizens and countrymen, O joy of the Kurus, the Kaurava appointed Bhimasena as the crown prince.
mantre ca niścaye caiva ṣāḍguṇyasya ca cintane। viduraṃ buddhisampannaṃ prītimānvai samādiśat ॥12-41-9॥
In matters of counsel, decision, and deliberation regarding the six policies, he appointed Vidura, who was wise and affectionate.
kṛtākṛtaparijñāne tathāyavyayacintane। sañjayaṃ yojayāmāsa ṛddhamṛddhairguṇairyutam ॥12-41-10॥
Sañjaya, who possessed complete knowledge of action and inaction and contemplated the imperishable, was engaged, endowed with virtues, and prosperous among the prosperous.
balasya parimāṇe ca bhaktavetanayostathā। nakulaṃ vyādiśadrājā karmaṇām anvavekṣaṇe ॥12-41-11॥
The king appointed Nakula to supervise the measurement of the army and also the distribution of food and wages to the workers.
paracakroparodhe ca dṛptānāṃ cāvamardane। yudhiṣṭhiro mahārājaḥ phalgunaṃ vyādideśa ha ॥12-41-12॥
When the enemy army obstructed and the arrogant needed to be subdued, King Yudhishthira commanded Arjuna (Phalguna).
dvijānāṃ vedakāryeṣu kāryeṣvanyeṣu caiva hi। dhaumyaṃ purodhasāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vyādideśa parantapaḥ ॥12-41-13॥
For the twice-born, in Vedic rituals and other duties as well, Dhaumya, the foremost among priests, was appointed by the mighty conqueror.
sahadevaṃ samīpasthaṃ nityam eva samādiśat। tena gopyo hi nṛpatiḥ sarvāvastho viśāṃ pate ॥12-41-14॥
With Sahadeva always nearby, he continually gave instructions. By him, the king, in every situation, protected the cowherd women, O lord of the people.
yāny ānam anyayogyāṃś ca yeṣu yeṣv iha karmasu। tāṃs tāṃs teṣv eva yuyuje prīyamāṇo mahīpatiḥ ॥12-41-15॥
The king, being pleased, engaged only those persons in those actions for which they were suitable.
viduraṃ sañjayaṃ caiva yuyutsuṃ ca mahāmatim। abravīt paravīraghno dharmātmā dharmavatsalaḥ ॥12-41-16॥
The destroyer of enemy heroes, righteous and devoted to dharma, spoke to Vidura, Sanjaya, and the wise Yuyutsu.
utthāyotthāya yat kāryam asya rājñaḥ pitur mama। sarvaṃ bhavadbhiḥ kartavyam apramattair yathā tatham ॥12-41-17॥
Rise up again and again; whatever duty belongs to him, to the king, my father, all of it must be performed by you all with vigilance, exactly as it should be.
paurajanapadānāṃ ca yāni kāryāṇi nityaśaḥ। rājānaṃ samanujñāpya tāni kāryāṇi dharmataḥ ॥12-41-18॥
The regular duties of townsmen and country people, after obtaining the king's permission, should be performed in accordance with dharma.
