Shloka 5

Devanagari script

कथं हि धर्मराजस्य दोषमल्पमपि ब्रुवन्‌ । लभते परिषन्मध्ये व्याहर्तुमकुतो भय:,भला, कोई भी मनुष्य भरी सभामें निर्भय होकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरपर थोड़ा-सा भी दोषारोपण करे, तो वह कैसे बोलनेका अवसर पा सकता है?

Transliteration

kathaṁ hi dharmarājasya doṣam alpam api bruvan | labhate pariṣanmadhye vyāhartum akuto-bhayaḥ ||

Translation

How could anyone, speaking even the slightest fault of Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), obtain the chance to speak in the midst of the assembly—remaining fearless and unhesitating?

Word by Word

कथम्how?

हिindeed/for

धर्मराजस्यof Dharmaraja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

दोषम्fault/blame

अल्पम्small/slight

अपिeven/also

ब्रुवन्saying/speaking (uttering)

लभतेobtains/gets

परिषत्in the assembly/council

मध्येin the midst

व्याहर्तुम्to utter/speak out

अकुतोभयःfearless (having fear from nowhere)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

pariṣat (assembly/court)

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?

Speech in a public assembly is governed by dharma and social accountability: to accuse a widely revered righteous king even slightly is difficult, because such blame is seen as improper and invites opposition; moral authority protects the virtuous from casual slander.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana comments on the stature of Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, implying that in the council/assembly no one can easily or fearlessly find room to voice even a minor दोष (fault) against him, given his established reputation for righteousness.