Shloka 5

धृतराष्ट्र-सेवा, राज्य-कार्य-विभागः

Service to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Allocation of State Duties

Devanagari script

“महाराज धृतराष्ट्र मेरे पिता (ताऊ) और श्रेष्ठ देवता हैं। जो लोग मेरा प्रिय करना चाहते हों उन्हें सदा उनकी आज्ञाके पालन तथा हित-साधनमें लगे रहना चाहिये ।।

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro me pitā (tāu) ca śreṣṭha-devatā ca | ye janā mama priyaṃ kartum iccheyuḥ te sadā tasya ājñā-pālane hita-sādhane ca yuktā bhaveyuḥ || etad-arthaṃ hi jīvāmi kṛtvā jñāti-vadhaṃ mahat | asya śuśrūṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ mayā nityam atandriṇā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „König Dhṛtarāṣṭra ist mir zugleich Vater (ein Ältester wie ein väterlicher Onkel) und eine verehrungswürdige Gottheit. Wer mich erfreuen will, soll stets darauf bedacht sein, seinen Befehlen zu gehorchen und sein Wohlergehen zu fördern. Wahrlich, nachdem ich ein so großes Schlachten unter meinen eigenen Verwandten mitverursacht habe, lebe ich nun eben dafür: Ohne Unterlass und ohne Nachlässigkeit muss ich in seinem Dienst und in sorgsamer Pflege verbleiben.“

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (thing/purpose)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थम्: purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• जीवामि: I live
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• ज्ञाति-वधम्: slaughter of kinsmen
• ज्ञाति-वधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति-वध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अस्य: of him/this (king)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शुश्रूषणम्: service/attendance
• शुश्रूषणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कार्यम्: to be done/necessary
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• अतन्द्रिणा: without laziness, vigilant
• अतन्द्रिणा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma after catastrophe: having participated in the destruction of one’s own kin, one must take responsibility through vigilant service, obedience, and active welfare of the elder/king regarded as a father-figure and highest authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a speaker declares that Dhṛtarāṣṭra is like a father and worthy of reverence; therefore, anyone wishing to please the speaker should obey Dhṛtarāṣṭra and work for his good. The speaker emphasizes living on specifically to serve Dhṛtarāṣṭra after the immense kinsmen-slaying of the war.