Shloka 8

Devanagari script

दिष्टया तात मनस्तेउद्य स्वधर्ममनुवर्तते । आनुृशंस्ये च ते दिष्ट्या बुद्धि: सततमच्युत,“तात! सौभाग्यकी बात है कि इस समय भी तुम्हारा मन अपने धर्मका ही अनुसरण करता है। धर्मसे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले मेरे भाई! तुम्हारी बुद्धि क्रूरताकी ओर न जाकर जो सदा दयाभावमें ही रम रही है, यह भी कम सौभाग्यकी बात नहीं है

Transliteration

diṣṭyā tāta manas te ’dya svadharmam anuvartate | ānṛśaṃsye ca te diṣṭyā buddhiḥ satatam acyuta ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Blessed indeed, dear one, that even now your mind continues to follow its own righteous duty. And blessed too that your understanding, O unwavering one, remains constantly inclined to compassion rather than to cruelty.”

Word by Word

• {'diṣṭyā': 'by good fortune

• it is fortunate that', 'tāta': 'dear one

• affectionate address', 'manas': 'mind

• intention', 'adya': 'today

• at this moment', 'svadharma': 'one’s own duty

• rightful conduct according to one’s role and situation', 'anuvartate': 'follows

• conforms to', 'ānṛśaṃsya': 'non-cruelty

• kindness', 'buddhiḥ': 'intellect

• judgment', 'satatam': 'always

• continually', 'acyuta': 'the unfailing/unyielding one

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violence and crisis, true righteousness is shown by steadfast adherence to svadharma and by keeping one’s moral judgment rooted in compassion rather than cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses someone affectionately, praising that person’s continued commitment to duty and their compassionate disposition, highlighting ethical restraint within the wartime setting of Droṇa Parva.