Shloka 19

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana

Keśava-vākya aftermath

Devanagari script

शमे शर्म भवेत्‌ तात सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा । ह्वीमानसि कुले जात: श्रुतवाननृशंसवान्‌ । तिष्ठ तात पितु: शास्त्रे मातुश्न भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

śame śarma bhavet tāta sarvasya jagatas tathā | hvīmānasi kule jātaḥ śrutavān anṛśaṃsavān | tiṣṭha tāta pituḥ śāstre mātuś ca bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Dear child, in peace lies true welfare—so it is for the whole world. Born in a noble lineage, endowed with modesty, learned in sacred teaching, and free from cruelty, you should therefore, O best of the Bharatas, remain within the discipline and guidance of your father and your mother.”

Word by Word

• {'śame': 'in peace

• in pacification (locative of śama)', 'śarma': 'welfare, happiness, security, well-being', 'bhavet': 'may be

• would arise (optative of √bhū)', 'tāta': 'dear child

• son (term of address)', 'sarvasya': 'of all', 'jagataḥ': 'of the world

• of living beings', 'tathā': 'thus

• in that manner', 'kule': 'in a family/lineage', 'jātaḥ': 'born', 'śrutavān': 'learned

• one who has heard/learned the scriptures and tradition', 'anṛśaṃsavān': 'non-cruel

• not harsh', 'tiṣṭha': 'stand firm

• abide (imperative of √sthā)', 'pituḥ': 'of the father', 'śāstre': 'in instruction/discipline

• in authoritative teaching', 'mātuḥ': 'of the mother', 'bharatarṣabha': 'O bull among the Bharatas

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bharata lineage (bharatarṣabha)
• father (pituḥ)
• mother (mātuḥ)
• the world (jagat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that peace (śama) is the highest welfare (śarma) for all beings, and that a person of noble birth and good character should restrain himself and follow the rightful guidance of elders—especially parents—rather than be driven toward harshness or conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, the speaker (Vaiśaṃpāyana) reports counsel urging a Bharata prince to choose conciliation and to remain under the moral and disciplinary authority of his father and mother, emphasizing character—modesty, learning, and compassion—as grounds for pursuing peace.