Shloka 6

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र प्रार्थ्यमानेन दुर्बलेन महाबलै: । एकेनैवासहायेन शक्‍यं स्थातुं भवेत्‌ कथम्‌,जब अनेक महाबली शत्रु किसी दुर्बल राजाको सब ओरसे हड़प जानेके लिये तैयार हो जाये, तब उस एकमात्र असहाय नरेशके द्वारा उस परिस्थितिका कैसे सामना किया जा सकता है?

Transliteration

sarvatra prārthyamānena durbalena mahābalaiḥ | ekenaivāsahāyena śakyaṃ sthātuṃ bhavet katham ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “When a weak king is beset on every side by mighty rulers, each pressing his claim and ready to seize what they can, how can that lone, unsupported man possibly stand firm against such a situation?”

Word by Word

सर्वत्रeverywhere

प्रार्थ्यमानेनbeing assailed/pressed (lit. being requested/solicited)

दुर्बलेनby a weak (one)

महाबलैःby very strong (ones)

एकेनby one (alone)

एवindeed/only

असहायेनby one without help

शक्यम्possible

स्थातुम्to stand/hold out

भवेत्could be/would be

कथम्how?

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

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 a political-ethical dilemma central to rājadharma: mere personal virtue is not enough for a ruler’s survival when confronted by predatory powers; protection of the weak requires practical supports—alliances, counsel, resources, and just strategy—so that dharma can be upheld in real conditions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s discussions on governance and duty after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a pointed question: if many powerful kings converge to pressure and dispossess a weaker ruler, how can that solitary, allyless king withstand them? The question sets up instruction on prudent kingship and the means of safeguarding a realm.