Shloka 19

धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court

Devanagari script

आरालिका: सूपकारा रागखाण्डविकास्तथा । उपातिष्ठन्त राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं यथा पुरा

Transliteration

ārālikāḥ sūpakārā rāgakhāṇḍavikās tathā | upātiṣṭhanta rājānaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ yathā purā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Just as in former days, skilled palace attendants—those expert in preparing rice-dishes, soups, and delicacies—continued to wait upon King Dhṛtarāṣṭra on the appropriate occasions. Even in this later stage of life, the king’s household service persisted in an orderly manner, reflecting continuity of duty and established custom.

Word by Word

• आरालिकाः: cooks/chefs (ārālikas)
• आरालिकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरालिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सूपकाराः: soup-makers
• सूपकाराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूपकार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रागखाण्डविकाः: makers of rāga and khāṇḍava (sweetmeats/dishes)
• रागखाण्डविकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रागखाण्डविक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: and also/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उपातिष्ठन्त: attended upon/served
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृतराष्ट्रम्: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• पुरा: formerly/before
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• ārālikāḥ (kitchen attendants)
• sūpakārāḥ (soup-cooks)
• rāgakhāṇḍavikāḥ (specialty cooks/confectioners)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights continuity of duty and orderly service: even as circumstances change, established roles and respectful attendance upon elders and rulers can persist as a form of social dharma, provided it is conducted with propriety.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s attendants in the kitchen—specialist cooks for staple dishes, soups, and delicacies—continuing to serve him on suitable occasions, just as they did earlier in his royal life.