Shloka 42

धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts

Devanagari script

विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है

Transliteration

viparītakṛc ca me śatrur niyamyakṛc ca bhaven naraḥ |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “A man who acts contrary to my command is my enemy; but one who restrains himself and lives in obedience becomes my well-wisher.” Thus King Yudhiṣṭhira, renowned for compassion, would calmly and consistently tell his brothers and ministers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra was worthy of honor for them all; whoever remained under his authority was dear to him, while one who behaved in opposition would incur punishment.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'viparīta', 'definition': 'contrary, opposite, acting against (an order or proper conduct)'}, {'term': 'kṛt (kṛc)', 'definition': 'one who does/acts

• a doer (here: one who behaves in a certain way)'}, {'term': 'me', 'definition': 'my'}, {'term': 'śatruḥ', 'definition': 'enemy'}, {'term': 'niyamya', 'definition': 'having restrained/controlled (oneself)

• with self-discipline'}, {'term': 'bhavet', 'definition': 'would be, becomes'}, {'term': 'naraḥ', 'definition': 'man, person'}, {'term': 'daṇḍa', 'definition': 'punishment

• royal chastisement/discipline'}, {'term': 'ājñā', 'definition': 'command, order'}, {'term': 'suhṛd', 'definition': 'well-wisher, friend'}]

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Yudhiṣṭhira's brothers (Pāṇḍavas)
• ministers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Yudhiṣṭhira frames loyalty in ethical terms: honoring a venerable elder-king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and practicing self-restraint are marks of a true ally, while deliberate opposition to rightful authority invites just punishment. The verse links friendship with discipline and enmity with defiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s gentle but firm governance after the war: he instructs his brothers and ministers to treat Dhṛtarāṣṭra as worthy of reverence and to remain under his directives; those who act contrary are to be regarded as enemies and liable to royal chastisement.