Shloka 26

Vyāsa’s Counsel to the Concealed Pāṇḍavas; Śaṃkara’s Boon and the Predestination of Draupadī

Chapter 157

Devanagari script

यतितं वै मया पूर्व वेत्थ ब्राह्मणि तत्‌ तथा । क्षेमं यतस्ततो गन्तुं त्वया तु मम न श्रुतम्‌,ब्राह्मणी! तुम इस बातको ठीक-ठीक जानती हो कि पहले तुम्हारे साथ किसी ऐसे स्थानमें चलनेके लिये जहाँ सब प्रकारसे अपना भला हो, मैंने प्रयत्न किया था; परंतु उस समय तुमने मेरी बात नहीं सुनी

Transliteration

yatitaṃ vai mayā pūrvaṃ vettha brāhmaṇi tat tathā | kṣemaṃ yatastato gantuṃ tvayā tu mama na śrutam, brāhmaṇī ||

Translation

Der Brāhmane sprach: „Du weißt wohl, o Brahmanenfrau, dass ich früher wahrhaftig den Versuch unternahm, dich an einen Ort der Sicherheit und des Wohlergehens zu führen. Doch damals hast du nicht auf meine Worte gehört, gnädige Frau.“

Word by Word

[{'term''yatitam', 'definition': 'effort made

striven'}, {'term''vai', 'definition': 'indeed

surely (emphatic particle)'}, {'term''mayā', 'definition': 'by me'}, {'term': 'pūrvam', 'definition': 'formerly

earlier'}, {'term''vettha', 'definition': 'you know (2nd person singular, perfect/present sense)'}, {'term': 'brāhmaṇi / brāhmaṇī', 'definition': 'O Brahmin woman (vocative)'}, {'term': 'tat tathā', 'definition': 'that, just so

exactly thus'}, {'term''kṣemam', 'definition': 'safety

secure good'}, {'term''yataḥ tataḥ', 'definition': 'from wherever

to whatever place (i.e., to any suitable safe place)'}, {'term''gantum', 'definition': 'to go

to proceed'}, {'term''tvayā tu', 'definition': 'but by you

yet you (contrastive)'}, {'term''mama', 'definition': 'my

of me'}, {'term''na śrutam', 'definition': 'was not listened to

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्राह्मण (Brahmin speaker)

ब

ब्राह्मणी (Brahmin woman addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses ethical accountability in relationships: sincere guidance toward welfare (kṣema) must be met with attentive listening. Neglecting prudent counsel can become a moral and practical failing, especially when safety and well-being are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin addresses a Brahmin woman, reminding her that he previously tried to take her to a safe, beneficial place, but she did not accept or heed his advice at that time. The line functions as a reproach and a justification of his earlier conduct.