Shloka 38

Kuberasaras-darśana (Bhīma beholds Kubera’s guarded lotus-lake) / कुबेरसरः-दर्शनम्

Devanagari script

वृद्ध: सम्मन्त्रय सद्धिश्व बुद्धिमद्धि: श्रुतान्वितै: । आस्थित: शास्ति दण्डेन व्यसनी परिभूयते,वेद-शास्त्रोंके विद्वान, बुद्धिमान्‌ तथा बड़े-बूढ़े श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंस सलाह करके उनका कृपापात्र बना हुआ राजा ही दण्डनीतिके द्वारा शासन कर सकता है। जो राजा दुर्व्यसनोंमें आसक्त होता है, उसका पराभव हो जाता है

Transliteration

vṛddhaiḥ sammantrya saddhiś ca buddhimadbhiḥ śrutānvitaiḥ | āsthitaḥ śāsti daṇḍena vyasanī paribhūyate ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having taken counsel with elders—good and wise men endowed with learning—a king who stands firmly in their guidance can govern through the policy of punishment and restraint. But a ruler addicted to destructive vices is brought low and suffers defeat.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'vṛddhaiḥ', 'definition': 'with elders

• with senior, experienced persons'}, {'term': 'sammantrya', 'definition': 'having consulted

• having deliberated together'}, {'term': 'sadbhiḥ', 'definition': 'with the good

• with virtuous people'}, {'term': 'buddhimadbhiḥ', 'definition': 'with the intelligent

• prudent, discerning'}, {'term': 'śrutānvitaiḥ', 'definition': 'endowed with learning

• versed in what is heard/learned (Veda, śāstra, tradition)'}, {'term': 'āsthitaḥ', 'definition': 'standing firm

• established in (their counsel/discipline)'}, {'term': 'śāsti', 'definition': 'rules

• disciplines'}, {'term': 'daṇḍena', 'definition': 'by daṇḍa—punishment, coercive authority, the rod

• state discipline'}, {'term': 'vyasanī', 'definition': 'one addicted to vices

• a man of bad habits'}, {'term': 'paribhūyate', 'definition': 'is overcome

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• the king (rājā)
• elders (vṛddhāḥ)
• the good/virtuous (santaḥ/sadbhiḥ)
• daṇḍa (royal punishment/authority)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s authority (daṇḍa) becomes legitimate and effective only when grounded in counsel from virtuous, learned elders; addiction to vices destroys kingship and leads to defeat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana delivers a rājadharma maxim within the Vana Parva discourse: he contrasts the successful king who consults wise elders and governs with disciplined authority against the vice-addicted king who is inevitably overpowered and ruined.