Shloka 1

Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर राजा दुर्योधन उस समय दूतोंकी बातपर विचार करके बहुत देरतक मन-ही-मन कुछ सोचता रहा। उसके बाद उसने सभासदोंसे कहा--

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! tadanantaraṁ rājā Duryodhanaḥ tasmin samaye dūtānāṁ vākyam ālocya bahu-dīrgha-kālaṁ manasā kiñcid vicārayām āsa. tataḥ sa sabhāsadān uvāca—

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, thereafter King Duryodhana, reflecting on the messengers’ words, remained for a long time absorbed in silent deliberation. Then he addressed the members of the assembly.”

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• जनमेजय: O Janamejaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Duryodhana
• dūta (messengers)
• sabhā (assembly/court)
• sabhāsadaḥ (assembly members)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of counsel and decision-making in governance: a ruler should not react impulsively to reports but reflect carefully and then consult or address the assembly, since public decisions shape collective fate.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the messengers, Duryodhana spends a long time thinking privately. Having formed his thoughts, he turns to the court/assembly members to speak, signaling an impending policy or strategic decision.