Shloka 51
इतश्नतुर्दशे वर्षे महत् प्राप्पस्पथ वैशसम् | “यह राज्य तुमलोगोंके लिये शीतकालमें होनेवाली ताड़के पेड़की छायाके समान दो ही घड़ीतक सुख देनेवाला है। अब तुम बड़े-बड़े यज्ञ करो, मनमाने भोग भोगो और इच्छानुसार दान कर लो। आजसे चौदहवें वर्षमें तुम्हें बहुत बड़ी मार-काटका सामना करना पड़ेगा" || ५० ई || द्रोणस्य वचन श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रोडब्रवीदिदम्,द्रोणाचार्यकी यह बात सुनकर धुृतराष्ट्रने कहा--
itaś caturdaśe varṣe mahat prāpsyatha vaiśasam | “idaṁ rājyaṁ yuṣmākaṁ śītakāle bhavatyāḥ tāḍake-vṛkṣa-chāyā-sadṛśaṁ dve ghaṭike eva sukha-dāyakam | adhunā yūyaṁ mahā-yajñān kuruta, manomānān bhogān bhuṅkṣva, icchānusāraṁ dānaṁ ca datta | adyaḥ prabhṛti caturdaśe varṣe yuṣmākaṁ mahān saṁgrāma-vadha-saṁmukhaḥ bhaviṣyati” || droṇasya vacanaṁ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭro ’bravīd idam |
In the fourteenth year from now, you will meet with a great calamity of slaughter. “This kingdom,” he said, “is for you like the shade of a palmyra tree in winter—pleasant only for two brief moments. Therefore, while you can, perform great sacrifices, indulge in whatever enjoyments you desire, and give gifts as you please. For in the fourteenth year from today, a vast and deadly conflict will confront you.” Hearing Droṇa’s words, Dhṛtarāṣṭra replied.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly power and royal pleasure are fleeting; therefore one should not cling to sovereignty as permanent. The verse frames prosperity as momentary and urges purposeful action—ritual duty, generosity, and mindful enjoyment—under the shadow of impending violence, highlighting the ethical tension between indulgence and responsibility.
A warning is voiced that in the fourteenth year a great bloodshed will occur. The speaker compares the present kingdom’s comfort to a brief, unreliable shade, then advises performing major sacrifices and giving gifts while time remains. The narration then transitions: Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks after hearing Droṇa’s words.