Shloka 46

Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris

Udyoga-parva 94

Devanagari script

पित्रा स्थापयितव्या हि वयमुत्पथमास्थिता:

Transliteration

pitrā sthāpayitavyā hi vayam utpatham āsthitāḥ

Translation

For indeed we have strayed onto a wrongful path; therefore it is the father who must set us back upon the proper course—restraining, correcting, and re-establishing us in what is right.

Word by Word

• पित्रा: by the father
• पित्रा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्थापयितव्या: to be established / should be set (right)
• स्थापयितव्या: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थापयितव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• उत्पथम्: wrong path / bad course
• उत्पथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थिता: having taken to / having resorted to
• आस्थिता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) → आस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• pitṛ (father)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When one recognizes having deviated from dharma, restoration requires rightful guidance and discipline; here, the father symbolizes legitimate moral authority tasked with re-establishing order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a group speaks collectively, admitting they have taken an improper course and asserting that their father should intervene to correct and re-set them on the right path.