Shloka 4

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

उवास कतिचिन्मासान् राज्ञो वृत्तविवित्सया । दुष्प्रजस्याल्पसारस्य खलच्छन्दानुवर्तिन: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

uvāsa katicin māsān rājño vṛtta-vivitsayā duṣprajasyālpa-sārasya khala-cchandānuvartinaḥ

Translation

He stayed in Hastināpura for several months, intent on discerning the conduct of the weak-willed king—burdened with wicked sons, scant in inner strength, and prone to follow the whims of devious advisers.

Synonyms

• uvāsa: (he) dwelt/stayed
• uvāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• katicit: some, a few
• katicit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kati + cit (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-निपात ‘cit’ युक्त; बहुवचन-द्वितीया (Accusative plural) विशेषणरूपेण ‘māsān’ इति पदस्य

• māsān: months
• māsān: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• vṛtta-vivitsayā: out of a desire to know (his) conduct
• vṛtta-vivitsayā: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक) + vivitsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vṛttasya vivitsā)

• duṣprajasya: of the ill-ruled/with bad subjects
• duṣprajasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣpraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘rājñaḥ’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• alpa-sārasya: of little worth/essence
• alpa-sārasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (alpaḥ sāraḥ yasya) ‘rājñaḥ’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• khala-cchanda-anuvartinaḥ: who follows the whims of the wicked
• khala-cchanda-anuvartinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक) + chanda (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (khalānāṁ chandānām anuvartī) ‘rājñaḥ’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• (the king—unnamed in this verse)
• (the observer—unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bad leadership and wicked advisers?

This verse describes a king who lacks inner substance and ends up acting according to the whims of wicked men—showing how degraded counsel and weak character distort righteous rule.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention the king’s flaws in this verse?

He highlights the moral and political condition of the ruler being observed, stressing that leadership without virtue becomes dependent on corrupt influences and unruly public behavior.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

Choose guidance carefully and cultivate integrity—otherwise decisions become driven by pressure, trends, or manipulative people rather than dharma and genuine strength of character.