Shloka 18

धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः

Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue

Devanagari script

ततः संवर्धयामास संस्कारैश्वाप्पपोजयत्‌ । प्रातीपेयो नरश्रेष्ठो मिथुनं गौतमस्य तत्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃvardhayāmāsa saṃskāraiś cāpy apūjayat | prātīpeyo naraśreṣṭho mithunaṃ gautamasya tat ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Thereafter, the noble Prātīpeya (King Pratīpa’s descendant, Śantanu) nurtured that pair belonging to Gautama—raising them with care, honoring them, and, at the proper times, completing for them the prescribed rites of refinement (saṃskāras).

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: avyaya

• संवर्धयामास: he reared / brought up
• संवर्धयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (वर्धते) + सम्
• Form: lakara: लिट् (periphrastic perfect); person: 3; number: singular; pada: परस्मैपद

• संस्कारैः: with rites / sacraments
• संस्कारैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gender: masculine; case: instrumental; number: plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: avyaya

• अप्य: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: avyaya

• आप्पपोजयत्: he honored / duly attended (them)
• आप्पपोजयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (पूजयति) + आ
• Form: lakara: लङ्; person: 3; number: singular; pada: परस्मैपद

• प्रातीपेयः: Pratīpeya (descendant/son of Pratīpa)
• प्रातीपेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रातीपेय (प्रातिपदिक; प्रतीप-अपत्य/वंशज)
• Form: gender: masculine; case: nominative; number: singular

• नरश्रेष्ठः: the best of men
• नरश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gender: masculine; case: nominative; number: singular

• मिथुनम्: the pair (the two children)
• मिथुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gender: neuter; case: accusative; number: singular

• गौतमस्य: of Gautama
• गौतमस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gender: masculine; case: genitive; number: singular

• तत्: that (pair)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: gender: neuter; case: accusative; number: singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Pratīpa (Prātīpeya)
• Gautama

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a ruler’s dharma as guardian: true care includes completing saṃskāras—timely rites and education that cultivate virtue, social responsibility, and disciplined character, not merely providing food and shelter.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the preceding events, King Pratīpa raises a pair associated with Gautama, honoring them and ensuring they undergo the appropriate saṃskāras at the proper times, indicating their formal integration into a protected and ethically guided life.