Shloka 16

Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya

Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City

Devanagari script

अवश्यं त्वेव वासार्थ रमणीयं शिवं सुखम्‌ । सम्मन्त्रय सहितै: सर्वर्वस्तव्यमकुतो भयै:,तथापि हम सब लोगोंको आपसमें सलाह करके अवश्य ही अपने रहनेके लिये कोई परम सुन्दर, कल्याणकारी तथा सुखद स्थान चुन लेना चाहिये, जहाँ हम निर्भय होकर रह सकें

Transliteration

avaśyaṃ tveva vāsārthaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ śivaṃ sukham | sammantraya sahitaiḥ sarvair vastavyam akuto-bhayaiḥ ||

Translation

قال يودهيشثيرا: «لا بدّ لنا حقًّا أن نؤمّن مسكنًا—بهِيجًا، مباركًا، مريحًا. لذلك، بعد أن نتشاور جميعًا مع رفاقنا، ينبغي أن نختار موضعًا نقيم فيه آمنين بلا خوف.»

Word by Word

अवश्यम्certainly, necessarily

तुbut, indeed

एवindeed, only

वासार्थम्for the purpose of dwelling

रमणीयम्delightful, charming

शिवम्auspicious, beneficial

सुखम्pleasant, comfortable

सम्मन्त्रयhaving consulted, after deliberating

सहितैःtogether with, accompanied by

सर्वैःwith all (of them)

वस्तव्यम्one should dwell; it is to be dwelt (in)

अकुतोभयैःby (those) fearing from nowhere; fearless

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

the Pandavas (implied by ‘all of us/companions’)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader should combine necessity with discernment: even when a stay is unavoidable, one must choose an auspicious and safe place through collective counsel, prioritizing welfare and fearlessness for all.

What is happening in the narrative?

At the outset of the Virāṭa Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks to his companions about the need to find a suitable residence; he urges them to deliberate together and select a pleasant, auspicious, and secure place where they can live without fear.