Vana Parva 250.3
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Vana Parva Chapter 250 · Verse 3
Sanskrit Original
अज्ञातैर्यदि वा ज्ञातैः कर्तव्यं नृपतेः प्रियम्। प्राय: प्रधानाः पुरुषाः क्षोभयन्त्यरिवाहिनीम्॥ निगृह्यन्ते च युद्धेषु मोक्ष्यन्ते चैव सैनिकैः। सेनाजीवाश्च ये राज्ञां विषये सन्ति मानवाः॥ तैः सङ्गम्य नृपार्थाय यतितव्यं यथातथम्। यद्येवं पाण्डवै राजन् भवद्विषयवासिभिः॥ यदृच्छया मोक्षितोऽसि तत्र का परिदेवना। न चैतत् साधु यद् राजन् पाण्डवास्त्वां नृपोत्तमम्॥
Should always do what is agreeable to the king, whether they happen to be known to the king or unknown to him. Often happens that even the foremost of men who are capable of crushing the enemy are often defeated by them; under such circumstances they are often rescued by their troops. The warriors living in a king's dominion should always combine and try their utmost for their king. If, therefore, O king, the Pandavas who live in your dominion have rescued you, what is there to be sorry for? O foremost of kings, O monarch, it was not proper for the Pandavas.