Shloka 33

Kāmyake Pāṇḍavānāṃ Bhojana-vyavasthā

Provisioning and Welfare in the Kāmyaka Forest

Devanagari script

यथा गुप्तस्त्वया राजा चरेत्‌ तीर्थानि सत्तम | दानं॑ दद्याद्‌ यथा चैव तथा कुरु महामुने,'साधुशिरोमणे! महामुने! आपसे सुरक्षित रहकर राजा युधिष्ठिर तीर्थोमें भ्रमण करें और दान दें--ऐसी कृपा कीजिये”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | yathā guptas tvayā rājā caret tīrthāni sattama | dānaṃ dadyād yathā caiva tathā kuru mahāmune ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O best of the good, please act in such a way that the king may, under your protection and in secrecy, travel to the sacred tīrthas and make gifts. Arrange it so that Yudhiṣṭhira can undertake pilgrimage safely and practice generosity as befits his dharma.”

Word by Word

यथाas, in such a way that

गुप्तःprotected, guarded

त्वयाby you

राजाthe king

चरेत्should wander/visit

तीर्थानिpilgrimage-places, sacred fords

सत्तमO best of the good

दानम्gift, charity

दद्यात्should give

यथाas, so that

चand

एवindeed, just

तथाthus, in that manner

कुरुdo (so)

महामुनेO great sage

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

rājā (the king)

mahāmuni (a great sage, addressed)

tīrthāni (pilgrimage sites)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 highlights dharma through two linked duties: ensuring righteous action is supported by prudent protection (gupti) and that a king sustains merit and social welfare through tīrtha-yātrā and dāna (pilgrimage and charitable giving).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a request addressed to a great sage: arrangements should be made so that King Yudhiṣṭhira can travel discreetly and safely to sacred pilgrimage places and perform acts of generosity.