Shloka 18

Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

उत्तरं च न ते किंचिद्‌ व्याहर्तव्यं कथठ्चन । पितामहनिसर्गेण तुष्टा होतद्‌ ब्रवीमि ते,इस विषयमें तुम्हें किसी तरह भी कोई प्रतिवाद या उत्तर नहीं देना चाहिये। मैं ब्रह्माजीकी आज्ञासे संतुष्ट होकर तुमसे यह बात कहती हूँ

Transliteration

uttaraṃ ca na te kiñcid vyāhartavyaṃ kathaṃcana | pitāmaha-nisargeṇa tuṣṭā hotad bravīmi te ||

Translation

“You should not offer any rebuttal or counter-answer at all, in any manner. Content and at peace through the ordinance of the Grandfather (Brahmā), I speak this to you.”

Word by Word

• {'uttaram': 'an answer

• a counter-statement', 'na': 'not', 'te': 'to you

• your', 'kiñcit': 'anything

• even the least', 'vyāhartavyam': 'to be uttered

• to be spoken in response (gerundive: ‘should be said’)', 'kathaṃcana': 'in any way whatsoever

• by any means', 'pitāmaha': 'the Grandfather

• an epithet of Brahmā', 'nisarga': 'sending forth

• injunction (contextually: command/appointment)', 'tuṣṭā': 'satisfied

• appeased', 'bravīmi': 'I say

• I speak', 'te (again)': 'to you'}

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes disciplined speech and acceptance of rightful authority: when a matter is settled by higher ordinance (here attributed to Brahmā), one should refrain from argumentative rebuttal and respond with composure and ethical restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the listener, instructing them not to give any counter-reply. He frames his statement as grounded in the ‘Pitāmaha’s’ (Brahmā’s) ordinance, indicating that his counsel is not merely personal opinion but aligned with a higher, sanctioned order.