Shloka 4

Adhyāya 42 (Śānti Parva): Śrāddha, Aurdhvadaihika Rites, and Royal Welfare Measures

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्नाभिमन्युभ्यां हैडिम्बस्य च रक्षस: । विराटप्रभृतीनां च सुहददामुपकारिणाम्‌

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭadyumnābhimanyubhyāṃ haiḍimbasya ca rakṣasaḥ | virāṭaprabhṛtīnāṃ ca suhṛdāṃ upakāriṇām ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: (Habló) de Dhṛṣṭadyumna y de Abhimanyu, y también del rākṣasa Haiḍimba; y de Virāṭa y de otros—amigos y bienhechores que habían prestado ayuda.

Word by Word

धृष्टद्युम्नाभिमन्युभ्याम्by Dhrishtadyumna and Abhimanyu

हैडिम्बस्यof (the) Haidimba

चand

रक्षसःof the rākṣasa (demon)

विराटप्रभृतीनाम्of Virāṭa and others

चand

सुहृदाम्of friends

उपकारिणाम्of benefactors / helpers

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Abhimanyu

Haiḍimba (rākṣasa)

Virāṭa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical duty of gratitude: remembering and honoring friends and benefactors who offered support, especially in times of crisis. Such remembrance reinforces dharma by valuing loyalty, service, and reciprocal responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is listing notable allies—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Abhimanyu, the rākṣasa Haiḍimba, and Virāṭa among others—characterizing them as friends and helpers. It functions as a recollection or enumeration of supportive figures connected with the Pāṇḍavas’ cause.