Shloka 57

Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment

Devanagari script

चतुर्वर्षशतायुश्च त्वया सार्धमवाप्स्यति । इष्ट्वा यज्जैश्व धर्मेण ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति,“यह तेरे साथ रहकर चार सौ वर्षोकी आयु प्राप्त करेगा। यज्ञोंद्वारा भगवानका यजन करके यह अपने धर्माचरणके द्वारा सम्पूर्ण विश्वमें विख्यात होगा

Transliteration

caturvarṣaśatāyuś ca tvayā sārdham avāpsyati | iṣṭvā yajñaiś ca dharmeṇa khyātiṃ loke gamiṣyati ||

Translation

Yama said: “Living in your company, he will attain a lifespan of four hundred years. Having worshipped the Lord through sacrifices and by steadfast practice of dharma, he will go forth as one renowned throughout the world.”

Word by Word

चतुर्वर्षशतायुश्चhaving a lifespan of four hundred years

त्वयाby/with you

सार्धम्together (with)

अवाप्स्यतिwill attain/obtain

इष्ट्वाhaving worshipped/sacrificed

यज्ञैःby means of sacrifices

धर्मेणby righteousness / through dharma

ख्यातिम्fame

लोकेin the world

गमिष्यतिwill go/attain (i.e., will become)

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

य

यम (Yama)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 links long life and lasting reputation to two pillars of righteous living: ritual devotion (yajña as worship) and ethical conduct (dharma). It presents fame not as mere social acclaim but as the natural outcome of sustained dharmic practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yama is granting a boon or prediction: a certain person, by remaining with the addressed listener, will gain an extraordinary lifespan and become widely renowned through sacrificial worship and faithful adherence to dharma.