Shloka 12

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

Devanagari script

“महाबली राजा धृतराष्ट्र केवल सिंहासनपर बैठे रहते और महात्मा विदुर सदा उनकी सेवामें उपस्थित रहते थे ।।

Transliteration

mahābalī rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ kevalaṁ siṁhāsanopari upaviśya tiṣṭhati sma, mahātmā viduraś ca sadā tasya sevāyāṁ samupasthitaḥ āsa. kathaṁ tasya kule jātaḥ kulabhedaṁ vyavasyasi? sambhūya bhrātṛbhiḥ sārtha bhokṣya bhogān janādhipa.

Translation

Dijo Vāyu: «El poderoso rey Dhṛtarāṣṭra permanecía sentado en el trono, mientras el noble Vidura estaba siempre presente a su servicio. ¿Cómo puedes tú—nacido en ese mismo linaje—decidir partir a la familia? Oh señor de los hombres, únete a tus hermanos y disfrutad juntos de los placeres que os corresponden.»

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• कुले: in the family
• कुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally), masculine, nominative, singular

• कुलभेदम्: a split in the family
• कुलभेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलभेद
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• व्यवस्यसि: you decide/undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + सि (√अवस्/√वस् in sense 'to decide/resolve')
• Form: lat, present, second, singular, parasmaipada

• सम्भूय: having come together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active

• भ्रातृभिः: with (your) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• सार्थ: O companion/associate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्थ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• भुङ्क्ष्व: enjoy! partake!
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: lot, imperative, second, singular, parasmaipada

• भोगान्: enjoyments/pleasures
• भोगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• जनाधिप: O ruler of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनाधिप
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vidura
• brothers (bhrātṛ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should not cause a rupture in one’s own lineage; ethical kingship favors reconciliation, shared prosperity, and preserving kula-dharma over factional ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses a royal figure, recalling Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s court where Vidura faithfully attends him, and rebukes the addressee for planning a family split, urging him to unite with his brothers and enjoy rightful gains together.