Shloka 12

धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas

Devanagari script

यात्रां गच्छेद्‌ बलैर्युक्तो राजा सद्धि: परंतप । युक्तश्न देशकालाभ्यां बलैरात्मगुणैस्तथा

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

yātrāṃ gacched balairyukto rājā saddhiḥ parantapa |

yuktaś ca deśa-kālābhyāṃ balair ātma-guṇais tathā ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra sprach: „O Bezwinger der Feinde, ein König soll nur dann zum Feldzug aufbrechen, wenn er über ausreichende Kräfte verfügt und von treuen Verbündeten getragen wird. Wenn Land und Zeit günstig sind und er sowohl mit Heeresmacht als auch mit den eigenen königlichen Tugenden gerüstet ist, dann—o mächtiger Herrscher—soll er mit einem guten Heer zum Sieg ausziehen.“

Word by Word

• यात्राम्: journey, expedition
• यात्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बलैः: with forces/strengths
• बलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• युक्तः: endowed, equipped
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धिः: success, accomplishment
• सिद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• युक्तश्नः: moderate in eating (one who eats suitably)
• युक्तश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्तश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देशकालाभ्याम्: with place and time
• देशकालाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशकाल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• बलैः: with forces
• बलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आत्मगुणैः: with personal/royal virtues
• आत्मगुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मगुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• a king (rājā)
• parantapa (addressee, epithet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should not rush into a campaign; he should act only when strength, allies, personal competence, and the suitability of place and time align—an ethic of prudent, responsible kingship (rājadharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra is giving counsel on royal conduct, stating the conditions under which a king should undertake a victory-seeking expedition: adequate troops, supportive allies, favorable circumstances, and kingly virtues.