Shloka 10

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

पश्यैनं कर्षकं क्षुद्रं दुर्बलं मम पुत्रकम्‌ । प्रतोदेनाभिनिधघ्नन्तं लाड़्लेन च पीडितम्‌,देखो, इस नीच किसानको जो मेरे दुर्बल बेटेको बार-बार कोड़ेसे पीट रहा है और वह हलसे जुतकर अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो रहा है

Transliteration

paśyainaṁ karṣakaṁ kṣudraṁ durbalaṁ mama putrakam | pratodenābhinighnantaṁ lāṅgalena ca pīḍitam ||

Translation

Vyāsa dijo: «Mira a ese miserable labrador: golpea una y otra vez con la aguijada a mi hijo, tan frágil; y mi niño, uncido al arado, está siendo atormentado cruelmente».

Word by Word

• पश्य: see!
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (दृश्-अर्थे)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 2, singular, परस्मैपद

• एनम्: this (him)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• कर्षकम्: ploughman, farmer
• कर्षकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• क्षुद्रम्: mean, petty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• दुर्बलम्: weak
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: genitive, singular

• पुत्रकम्: little son (dear son)
• पुत्रकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रतोदेन: with a goad/whip
• प्रतोदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• अभिनिधघ्नन्तम्: striking repeatedly
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-हन् (धातु: हन्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, accusative, singular

• लाङ्गलेन: with the plough
• लाङ्गलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पीडितम्: afflicted, tormented
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीडित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: पीड्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Vyāsa's son (putraka)
• karṣaka (ploughman/farmer)
• pratoda (goad/whip)
• lāṅgala (plough)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns cruelty and the misuse of force against the vulnerable; dharma requires restraint, compassion, and protection of those who are weak or dependent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa draws attention to a ploughman who is beating Vyāsa’s frail son with a goad while the child is made to endure the painful burden of the plough.