Shloka 45

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

vaiparītakṛc ca me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Whoever acts contrary to my command is my enemy; and the man who restrains himself and remains under discipline is truly a loyal supporter.” In this context, Yudhiṣṭhira—known for compassion—repeatedly reminded his brothers and ministers that King Dhṛtarāṣṭra was worthy of honor; obedience to the elder king was, for him, the mark of friendship and righteousness, while defiance invited punishment.

Word by Word

• {'vaiparītakṛt': 'one who acts oppositely

• a contrarian, disobedient person', 'ca': 'and', 'me': 'my', 'śatruḥ': 'enemy', 'niyamyaḥ': 'one who is restrained/controlled

• disciplined, obedient', 'bhavet': 'would be

• becomes', 'naraḥ': 'man

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Respect for rightful authority and elders is presented as a practical expression of dharma: disciplined obedience sustains social order, while willful contrariness is treated as hostility and becomes liable to punishment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports Yudhiṣṭhira’s stance toward Dhṛtarāṣṭra after the war: he instructs brothers and ministers to honor the elder king, defining friends as those who follow Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s directives and enemies as those who oppose them.