Shloka 32

Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त: प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा दु:खितो भृशमातुर: । तेभ्यो न्यवेदयं तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पितृगौरवात्‌,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर मैं अत्यन्त आतुर और दु:खी हो गया और मैंने हाथ जोड़कर उन सबसे पिताके महत्त्वकी ओर दृष्टि रखकर की हुई प्रतिज्ञाकें विषयमें निवेदन किया

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ prāñjalir bhūtvā duḥkhito bhṛśam āturaḥ | tebhyo nyavedayaṃ tatra pratijñāṃ pitṛgauravāt ||

Translation

Thus addressed, I stood with folded hands, overwhelmed by grief and acute distress. There, out of reverence for my father’s honor, I disclosed to them the vow I had undertaken—binding myself to it even at the cost of my own happiness.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

प्राञ्जलिःwith joined hands (one with folded palms)

भूत्वाhaving become

दुःखितःsorrowful

भृशम्exceedingly

आतुरःdistressed, agitated

तेभ्यःto them

न्यवेदयम्I informed / I submitted

तत्रthere

प्रतिज्ञाम्vow, promise

पितृगौरवात्out of reverence for (my) father

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of a vow undertaken for a higher obligation—here, reverence for a father’s honor. It presents dharma as fidelity to one’s pledged word, even when it brings personal sorrow.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, having been addressed by others, becomes deeply distressed. With folded hands, he formally informs them of the vow he had made, emphasizing that it was taken out of regard for his father’s dignity and authority.