Shloka 9

Devanagari script

यथा पिपासां जयति पुरुष: प्राप्प वै जलम्‌

Transliteration

yathā pipāsāṃ jayati puruṣaḥ prāpya vai jalam

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „So wie ein Mensch den Durst besiegt, wenn er tatsächlich Wasser erlangt hat.“

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• पिपासाम्: thirst
• पिपासाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिपासा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• जयति: conquers/overcomes
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: Lat, Present (Indicative), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having obtained/reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), ल्यप्

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• puruṣa (a person)
• jala (water)
• pipāsā (thirst)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a simple simile: genuine relief from a pressing lack comes only through attaining the true remedy—just as thirst is ended only by actually obtaining water. In ethical discourse, it points to real fulfillment through the appropriate means rather than substitutes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking within the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, introducing or supporting a point with an everyday example (thirst and water) to clarify the moral or practical conclusion being discussed.