Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवं त्वया कुरुश्रेष्ठ वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहितम्‌ । उभयोर्लोकयोस्तात प्राप्तये नित्यमेव हि,तात! कुरुश्रेष्ठ) इस प्रकार तुम्हें इहलोक और परलोकमें सुख पानेके लिये सदा ही प्रजावर्गके हित-साधनमें संलग्न रहना चाहिये

Transliteration

evaṁ tvayā kuruśreṣṭha vartitavyaṁ prajāhitam | ubhayor lokayos tāta prāptaye nityam eva hi ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O best of the Kurus, you should conduct yourself in a way that serves the welfare of the people. For, dear son, it is by constant dedication to the good of the subjects that one attains well-being in both worlds—here and hereafter.”

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

त्वयाby you

कुरुश्रेष्ठO best of the Kurus

वर्तितव्यम्should be conducted / must be done

प्रजाहितम्beneficial to the subjects

उभयोःof both

लोकयोःof the two worlds

तातO dear one / O son

प्राप्तयेfor the attainment

नित्यम्always

एवindeed, certainly

हिfor, indeed

तातO dear one

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Kuruśreṣṭha (addressed person, ‘best of the Kurus’)

prajā (the subjects/people)

ubhau lokau (this world and the next)

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?

A ruler or leader should remain steadily engaged in actions that benefit the people; such public-spirited conduct is presented as the means to secure good in both this life and the next.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a Kuru leader with counsel, urging sustained commitment to the welfare of the subjects as the proper standard of conduct and as a path to auspicious results in both worlds.