Shloka 93

Devanagari script

यथोचितं महाराज यशसा नावसीदति । महाराज! राजर्षियोंका यह वंश तुम-जैसे राजाको पाकर यथोचित प्रतिष्ठाको प्राप्त होता है न? इसे यशसे वंचित होकर अपयशका भागी तो नहीं होना पड़ता है?

Transliteration

yathocitaṃ mahārāja yaśasā nāvasīdati |

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O great king, does this royal line of rājaṛṣis, having obtained a king like you, attain the honor and standing that is fitting—and does it not sink into disgrace, deprived of fame?”

Word by Word

यथाas, in the manner that

उचितम्proper, fitting (thing/way)

महाराजO great king

यशसाby/with glory, by fame

नnot

अवसीदतिsinks down, declines, falls into distress

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Mahārāja (addressed king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical burden of kingship: a ruler’s conduct should uphold the rightful honor of the dynasty. Fame (yaśas) is treated as a moral outcome of dharmic governance, while loss of repute signals a fall from proper duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a ‘great king’ and frames a pointed question about whether the ancient royal line, having gained such a ruler, is receiving its due prestige rather than being dragged into dishonor—an anxious reflection on legacy and public judgment.