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Shloka 12

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka

देवतानां यथाकाल प्रसादं प्रतिपालय । तपसा योजयात्मानमुग्रेण भरतर्षभ,उसका विधिवत्‌ प्रयोग करनेपर समस्त जगत्‌ अच्छी प्रकारसे ज्यों-का-त्यों स्पष्ट दीखने लगता है। तात! उस मन्त्र-विद्यासे युक्त एवं एकाग्रचित्त होकर तुम यथासमय देवताओंकी प्रसन्नता प्राप्त करो। भरतश्रेष्ठी! अपने-आपको उग्र तपस्यामें लगाओ। धनुष, कवच और खड्ग धारण किये साधु-व्रतके पालनमें स्थित हो मौनावलम्बनपूर्वक किसीको आक्रमणका मार्ग न देते हुए उत्तर दिशाकी ओर जाओ

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | devatānāṃ yathākālaṃ prasādaṃ pratipālaya | tapasā yojayātmānam ugreṇa bharatarṣabha | dhanuḥ-kavaca-khaḍga-dhārī sādhu-vrate sthitaḥ | maunāvalambana-pūrvaṃ na kasyacid ākramasya mārgaṃ dadan | uttarāṃ diśaṃ gaccha |

قال يودهيشثيرا: «في الأوقات اللائقة، احفظ رضى الآلهة وثبّته. يا ثور آل بهاراتا، اشدد نفسك برياضةٍ قاسية. واحمل القوس والدرع والسيف، واثبت على نذرٍ مقدّس، مستنداً إلى الصمت؛ ولا تترك لأحدٍ منفذاً للهجوم؛ وامضِ نحو الشمال.»

देवतानाम्of the gods (deities)
देवतानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootदेवता
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
यथाas; according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
कालम्time (at the proper time)
कालम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रसादम्favor; grace; satisfaction
प्रसादम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रसाद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रतिपालयseek/maintain; duly attend to
प्रतिपालय:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-पाल्
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
तपसाby austerity; through penance
तपसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
योजयyoke; apply; engage
योजय:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootयुज्
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
आत्मानम्yourself; the self
आत्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उग्रेणwith fierce/ardent (austerity)
उग्रेण:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootउग्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas (best of Bharatas)
भरतर्षभ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
D
Devatāḥ (the gods)
B
Bharata lineage (bharatarṣabha)
B
Bow (dhanuḥ)
A
Armor (kavaca)
S
Sword (khaḍga)
N
Northern direction (uttarā diś)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches disciplined dharma: seek divine favor through timely, proper observance; cultivate intense tapas and self-control; adopt vows such as silence; and move with vigilance so as not to invite conflict—spiritual practice joined with prudent conduct.

Yudhiṣṭhira instructs the addressed Bharata hero to undertake an ascetic, vow-bound course of action: propitiate the gods at the right times, commit to severe austerities, travel north while armed and protected, keep silence, and avoid giving adversaries any chance to attack.