Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषमाणा: पार्थानां वाचो धर्मार्थसंहिता: । धृतराष्ट्रमुखा: सर्वे ययू राजसभां शुभाम्‌,धृतराष्ट्र आदि समस्त कौरवोंने भी पाण्डवोंकी धर्मार्थयुक्त बातें सुननेकी इच्छासे उस सुन्दर एवं विशाल राजसभामें प्रवेश किया, जो चूनेसे पुती होनेके कारण अत्यन्त उज्ज्वल दिखायी देती थी। सुवर्णमय प्रांगण उसकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे। वह सभा चन्द्रमाकी श्वेत रश्मियोंके समान प्रकाशित हो रही थी। वह देखनेमें अत्यन्त मनोहर थी और उसके भीतर चन्दनमिश्रित जलसे छिड़काव किया गया था

Transliteration

śuśrūṣamāṇāḥ pārthānāṃ vāco dharmārthasaṃhitāḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭramukhāḥ sarve yayū rājāsabhāṃ śubhām ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Wishing to listen to the Pāṇḍavas’ words—utterances aligned with dharma and practical good—all of them, led by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, proceeded to the auspicious royal assembly hall.

Word by Word

शुश्रूषमाणाःdesiring to listen/attend upon

पार्थानाम्of the Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pṛthā)

वाचःwords/speeches

धर्मार्थसंहिताःconnected with dharma and artha

धृतराष्ट्रमुखाःwith Dhṛtarāṣṭra at the head

सर्वेall

ययुःwent

राजसभाम्the royal assembly hall

शुभाम्auspicious/beautiful

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

rāja-sabhā (royal assembly hall)

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?

The verse highlights the ideal that political deliberation should be grounded in dharma (ethical right) and artha (practical welfare). It also elevates attentive listening—śuśrūṣā—as a necessary discipline for rulers and elders when weighing counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Led by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Kuru elders and others move into the royal court to hear the Pāṇḍavas’ statements, described as consonant with dharma and beneficial policy—setting the stage for formal discussion and decision-making.