Shloka 12

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

उपावत्तेषु पार्थेषु सर्वास्वेव वधूषु च । ययौ राजा महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रो वनं तदा

Transliteration

upāvatteṣu pārtheṣu sarvāsveva vadhūṣu ca | yayau rājā mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭro vanaṃ tadā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas) and all their daughters-in-law had taken leave and returned, the highly wise king Dhṛtarāṣṭra then set out for the forest.

Word by Word

• उपावत्तेषु: when (they) had returned / after returning
• उपावत्तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपावृत्त (उप + आ + √वृत्)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• पार्थेषु: among the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas)
• पार्थेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• सर्वासु: in all
• सर्वासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वधूषु: among the daughters-in-law / wives
• वधूषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise
• महाप्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)
• vadhūs (daughters-in-law of the Pāṇḍavas)
• King Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic withdrawal from worldly authority: after family matters are settled, an aged ruler turns toward renunciation and austerity, emphasizing detachment, accountability, and the pursuit of inner clarity over continued attachment to power.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the Pāṇḍavas and all their daughters-in-law have taken leave/returned from their attendance, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—described as very wise—departs for the forest, marking his transition from palace life to a forest-dwelling stage.