Shloka 1

Adhyāya 8 — Vidura’s Return and the Kaurava Counsel (Āraṇyaka-parva)

Devanagari script

हि >> आय न [हुक हि 7 2 अष्टमो> ध्याय: व्यासजीका धृतराष्ट्रसे दुर्योधनके अन्यायको रोकनेके लिये अनुरोध व्यास उवाच धृतराष्ट्र महाप्राज्ञ निबोध वचनं मम । वक्ष्यामि त्वां कौरवाणां सर्वेषां हितमुत्तमम्‌,व्यासजीने कहा--महाप्राज्ञ धृतराष्ट्र! तुम मेरी बात सुनो, मैं तुम्हें समस्त कौरवोंके हितकी उत्तम बात बताता हूँ

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | dhṛtarāṣṭra mahāprājña nibodha vacanaṃ mama | vakṣyāmi tvāṃ kauravāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ hitam uttamam ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, greatly wise king, listen carefully to my words. I shall tell you what is supremely beneficial for all the Kauravas.”

Word by Word

• {'vyāsa uvāca': 'Vyāsa said', 'dhṛtarāṣṭra': 'Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the Kuru king, father of the Kauravas)', 'mahāprājña': 'very wise

• of great discernment', 'nibodha': 'understand

• listen attentively (imperative)', 'vacanam': 'speech

• words', 'mama': 'my', 'vakṣyāmi': 'I will speak

• I will declare', 'tvām': 'to you', 'kauravāṇām': 'of the Kauravas (the Kuru princes/lineage)', 'sarveṣām': 'of all', 'hitam': 'welfare

• what is good', 'uttamam': 'highest

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kauravas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must heed wise counsel aimed at the common good (hita) of the entire lineage and kingdom, not merely personal attachment or partisan interest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and prepares to deliver guidance intended to restrain wrongdoing and secure the best welfare for all the Kauravas.