Shloka 15

Adhyaya 32: Saṃjaya’s Return, Audience with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Ethical Admonition

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट उवाच श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते धर्म्य पर॑ं नै:श्रेयसं वच: । अस्मिन्‌ राजर्षिवंशे हि त्वमेकः: प्राज्ञलसम्मत:

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca śrotum icchāmi te dharmyaṁ paraṁ naiḥśreyasaṁ vacaḥ | asmin rājarṣivaṁśe hi tvam ekaḥ prājñaiḥ sammataḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Vidura, I wish to hear from you words that are righteous and supremely conducive to the highest good. For in this lineage of royal seers, you alone are acknowledged by the wise as truly discerning.”

Word by Word

• {'dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca': 'Dhṛtarāṣṭra said', 'śrotum': 'to hear', 'icchāmi': 'I desire, I wish', 'te': 'your / from you', 'dharmyam': 'in accordance with dharma

• righteous', 'param': 'supreme, highest', 'naiḥśreyasam': 'leading to the highest good

• ultimate welfare/liberation-oriented good', 'vacaḥ': 'speech, words, counsel', 'asmin': 'in this', 'rājarṣi-vaṁśe': 'in the lineage of royal seers (king-sages)', 'hi': 'indeed, for', 'tvam': 'you', 'ekaḥ': 'alone', 'prājñaiḥ': 'by the wise, by the discerning', 'sammataḥ': 'approved, esteemed, acknowledged'}

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vidura
• rājarṣi-vaṁśa (lineage of royal seers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should seek counsel that is dharmic and oriented toward naiḥśreyasa—true, highest welfare—recognizing and honoring genuine wisdom even within a politically charged royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as tensions rise toward war, Dhṛtarāṣṭra turns to Vidura and requests morally elevating guidance, acknowledging Vidura as the most respected and discerning voice in their royal lineage.