Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सहदेव: प्रियस्तस्या: पुत्रेभ्योईधिक एव तु

Transliteration

Sahadevaḥ priyastasyāḥ putrebhyo ’dhika eva tu.

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Sahadeva was dear to her—indeed, even more than her own sons.” In the ethical frame of the Āśramavāsika narrative, the line underscores how affection and trust can transcend mere blood ties, revealing the quiet power of character and service in sustaining relationships amid grief and renunciation.

Word by Word

• सहदेवः: Sahadeva
• सहदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रियः: dear, beloved
• प्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• पुत्रेभ्यः: to/for (her) sons
• पुत्रेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• अधिकः: more, greater (than)
• अधिकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sahadeva
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• tasyāḥ (an unnamed woman referenced in context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Affection and esteem are earned through conduct and devoted service; moral character can create bonds stronger than those formed by birth alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira remarks on the special regard someone (referred to as “she”) had for Sahadeva, stating that her fondness for him exceeded even her affection for her own sons.