Shloka 17

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

Devanagari script

वायुदेव उवाच एवमुक्ते महाराज द्रोणेनामिततेजसा । व्याजहार ततो वाक्‍्यं विदुर: सत्यसड्भर: । पितुर्वदनमन्वीक्ष्य परिवृत्य च धर्मवित्‌,भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण कहते हैं--महाराज! अमित-तेजस्वी द्रोणाचार्यके इस प्रकार कहनेपर सत्यप्रतिज्ञ धर्मज्ञ विदुरने ज्येष्ठ पिता भीष्मकी ओर घूमकर उनके मुँहकी ओर देखते हुए इस प्रकार कहा

Transliteration

vāyudeva uvāca | evam ukte mahārāja droṇenāmitatejasā | vyājahāra tato vākyaṃ viduraḥ satyasaṅdharaḥ | pitur vadanaṃ anvīkṣya parivṛtya ca dharmavit |

Translation

Vāyudeva said: “O King, when the mighty Droṇācārya had spoken thus, Vidura—steadfast in truth and discerning in dharma—then addressed the assembly. Turning toward the elder sire Bhīṣma and looking upon his face, he spoke, grounding his words in ethical duty and truthful resolve.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'evam ukte', 'definition': 'when this had been said

• upon such words being spoken'}, {'term': 'mahārāja', 'definition': 'O great king (vocative address)'}, {'term': 'droṇena', 'definition': 'by Droṇa (Droṇācārya)'}, {'term': 'amita-tejasā', 'definition': 'of immeasurable splendor/energy

• exceedingly powerful'}, {'term': 'vyājahāra', 'definition': 'spoke

• addressed'}, {'term': 'tataḥ', 'definition': 'then

• thereafter'}, {'term': 'vākyaṃ', 'definition': 'speech

• words'}, {'term': 'viduraḥ', 'definition': 'Vidura (renowned for counsel and righteousness)'}, {'term': 'satya-saṅdharaḥ', 'definition': 'one who upholds truth

• true to his vow/commitment'}, {'term': 'pituḥ', 'definition': 'of the father/elder sire (here, the revered elder Bhīṣma)'}, {'term': 'vadanaṃ', 'definition': 'face

• mouth'}, {'term': 'anvīkṣya', 'definition': 'having looked at

• observing attentively'}, {'term': 'parivṛtya', 'definition': 'turning around

• turning toward'}, {'term': 'dharmavit', 'definition': 'knower of dharma

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Vidura
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic speech: truthful counsel (satya) offered with discernment (dharmavit) and due regard for elders (turning to Bhīṣma). It frames ethical deliberation as attentive, respectful, and anchored in integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Droṇācārya has spoken, Vidura begins his reply. He physically turns toward the senior authority Bhīṣma, studies his expression, and then addresses the gathering—signaling that his forthcoming words are meant as principled guidance within the tense political debate.