Shloka 19
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
न चोच्छेदं कुलं यायाद् विस्तीर्येच्च कथं यश: । तस्याहमीप्सितं बुद्ध्वा कालीं मातरमावहम्
na cocchedaṃ kulaṃ yāyād vistīryec ca kathaṃ yaśaḥ | tasyāham īpsitaṃ buddhvā kālīṃ mātaram āvaham |
„Möge dieses Geschlecht nicht abgeschnitten werden, und möge sein Ruhm sich immerfort ausbreiten.“ Da ich erkannte, dass dies sein innerster Wunsch war, brachte ich Mutter Kālī (Satyavatī) herbei. Zum Wohl der Dynastie und um meinen Vater zu erfreuen, nahm ich das schwere Gelübde auf mich, nicht König zu werden und als ūrdhvaretaḥ — in strenger lebenslanger Enthaltsamkeit — zu leben. All dies ist dir wohlbekannt. Dieses Gelübde wahrend, verweile ich hier stets, zufrieden und standhaft.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as self-restraint and sacrifice for a higher good: preserving the dynasty and honoring a father’s wish, even at great personal cost through a binding vow.
The speaker recalls understanding his father’s inner desire that the lineage not end and its fame grow; therefore he brought Kālī (Satyavatī) and undertook a severe vow—renouncing kingship and maintaining lifelong celibacy—continuing to live contentedly while upholding that pledge.