Shloka 14
इति मामब्रवीद् राजा पार्थश्चवैव धनंजय: । यदत्रानन्तरं कार्य तद् भवान् वक्तुमरहति,“इस प्रकार राजा युधिष्ठिर और अर्जुनने मुझसे बार-बार कहा है। अब इसके बाद जो कार्य करना हो, उसे आप बताइये”
iti mām abravīd rājā pārthaś caiva dhanañjayaḥ | yad atrānantaraṁ kāryaṁ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Thus did King Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna—the son of Pṛthā, Dhanañjaya—repeatedly address me: ‘What should be done next in this matter? You are the one fit to tell us.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic decision-making through humility and proper reliance on qualified counsel: even powerful leaders (Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna) seek guidance on the ‘next right action’ (anantaraṁ kāryam) from one deemed competent to direct them.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna repeatedly request him to state what should be done next. The line functions as a transition, handing narrative and moral initiative to the advisor/speaker to prescribe the subsequent course of action.