Shloka 7

धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama

Devanagari script

एवमेवोपकर्तणां प्रायशो लक्षयामहे । इच्छन्ति बहुलं सन्त: प्रतिकर्तु महत्‌ प्रियम्‌

Transliteration

evamevopakartṝṇāṃ prāyaśo lakṣayāmahe | icchanti bahulaṃ santaḥ pratikartuṃ mahat priyam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “So too, in the case of those who render help, we commonly observe this: good people, in great measure, long to repay a great kindness with a fitting return.”

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

एवindeed, just

उपकर्तॄणाम्of benefactors, of those who do good

प्रायशःgenerally, for the most part

लक्षयामहेwe observe, we notice

इच्छन्तिthey desire, they wish

बहुलम्much, greatly, abundantly

सन्तःgood people, the virtuous

प्रतिकर्तुम्to repay, to return (a favor)

महत्great

प्रियम्a pleasing thing; kindness; favor

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Character Dynamics

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?

A mark of the virtuous is gratitude: when they receive genuine help, they naturally wish to repay it proportionately, returning a great kindness with a great and fitting response.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, this verse functions as a general moral observation—highlighting how noble people respond to benefaction—supporting the surrounding discussion about obligations created by favors and the ethical impulse to reciprocate.