Shloka 226

Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)

Devanagari script

इदमाह तत: सूतं संजयं जयतां वर: । तदनन्तर विजयी पुरुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ राजा धृतराष्ट्रने उस अग्निको निकट आती जान सूत संजयसे इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

idam āha tataḥ sūtaṃ sañjayaṃ jayatāṃ varaḥ | tadanantaraṃ vijayī puruṣoṃ meṃ śreṣṭha rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro ne us agni ko nikaṭa ātī jān sūta sañjaya se is prakāra kahā—

Translation

Nārada sprach: Darauf wandte sich der Vornehmste unter den Siegreichen an den Sūta Sañjaya. Danach sprach König Dhṛtarāṣṭra—der Beste unter den Menschen—als er das herannahende Feuer gewahrte, zu Sañjaya diese Worte.

Word by Word

इदम्this (speech/statement)

आहsaid

ततःthen/thereupon

सूतम्the charioteer/bard (Sūta)

संजयम्Sañjaya

जयताम्of the victorious (ones)

वरःthe best/excellent

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Agni (fire)

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?

The passage underscores awareness of impermanence and the ethical gravity of one’s final moments: a ruler who has entered forest-life must meet approaching danger with clarity and responsibility, speaking rightly to those dependent on him.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada continues the account: Dhṛtarāṣṭra notices a fire approaching in the forest and addresses Sañjaya, setting up Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s ensuing words and the next turn of events.