Shloka 30

Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra

Devanagari script

गच्छध्वं त्वरिता: सर्वे यत्र राजा स कौरव: । न चेदद्यैव गच्छथध्वं धर्मराजनिवेशनम्‌

Transliteration

gacchadhvaṁ tvaritāḥ sarve yatra rājā sa kauravaḥ | na ced adyaiva gacchathadhvaṁ dharmarājaniveśanam ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Vosotros todos, apresuraos y marchad en seguida adonde se halla ese rey Kaurava. De lo contrario—si no queréis hacerlo—partid hoy mismo hacia la morada de Dharmarāja (el Señor de la Muerte)», dando a entender que la negativa o la demora traerán destrucción inmediata y consecuencia moral.

Word by Word

• गच्छध्वम्: go (you all)!
• गच्छध्वम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गच्छ-)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2, plural, कर्तरि

• त्वरिताः: hastened, quickly (being in haste)
• त्वरिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (ppp of त्वर्)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सः: that/he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कौरवः: the Kaurava (Duryodhana)
• कौरवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• चेत्: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत्

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• गच्छथ: go (you all)!
• गच्छथ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गच्छ-)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2, plural, कर्तरि

• ध्वम्: (2nd pl. imperative ending, part of verb-form)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्वम् (2pl imperative ending)

• धर्मराज: of Dharmaraja (Yama / or Yudhiṣṭhira, contextually Yama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• निवेशनम्: abode, dwelling (house/realm)
• निवेशनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kaurava king (Duryodhana)
• Dharmarāja (Yama)
• Dharmarāja-niveśana (abode of Yama / realm of death)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores accountability: obedience to rightful command and timely action avert ruin, while obstinacy or refusal invites immediate, fatal consequences—symbolized by being sent to Dharmarāja’s abode.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) issues an urgent order to a group: return immediately to the Kaurava king (Duryodhana). The alternative is framed as certain death—‘go to Dharmarāja’s dwelling’—a stark warning meant to compel compliance.