Shloka 16

अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance

Devanagari script

प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्य: प्रणेता कुरूणां बहुश्रुतो वृद्धसेवी मनीषी । तस्मै राज्ञे स्थविरायाभिवाद्य आचक्षीथा: संजय मामरोगम्‌

Transliteration

prajñācakṣur yaḥ praṇetā kurūṇāṃ bahuśruto vṛddhasevī manīṣī | tasmai rājñe sthavirāyābhivādya ācakṣīthāḥ saṃjaya mām arogam ||

Translation

Sañjaya, nachdem du dem betagten König Dhṛtarāṣṭra — blind, doch mit innerer Schau begabt; Führer der Kurus; in vielen Lehren bewandert; den Ältesten dienend und sie ehrend; und weise — ehrerbietig gegrüßt hast, richte ihm aus, dass ich, Yudhiṣṭhira, frei von Krankheit und wohlbehalten bin.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'prajñācakṣuḥ', 'definition': '‘having wisdom as one’s eyes’

• insightful though physically blind (epithet of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)'}, {'term': 'praṇetā', 'definition': 'leader, guide, commander'}, {'term': 'kurūṇām', 'definition': 'of the Kurus (Kuru lineage/people)'}, {'term': 'bahuśrutaḥ', 'definition': 'much-heard

• learned, well-versed in many śāstras/traditions'}, {'term': 'vṛddhasevī', 'definition': 'one who serves/attends upon elders

• respectful to seniors'}, {'term': 'manīṣī', 'definition': 'wise, thoughtful, discerning'}, {'term': 'sthavira', 'definition': 'aged, elder'}, {'term': 'abhivādya', 'definition': 'having saluted, having paid respects'}, {'term': 'ācakṣīthāḥ', 'definition': 'you should tell/declare (2nd person singular, optative/imperative sense)'}, {'term': 'arogam', 'definition': 'free from disease

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kurus (Kaurava/Kuru people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid political tension, dharmic conduct begins with respect: honoring elders, acknowledging legitimate authority, and communicating with courtesy and concern for well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Sañjaya to salute the elder king Dhṛtarāṣṭra and report that Yudhiṣṭhira is healthy and safe—an act of formal, diplomatic communication in the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations.