Shloka 35

Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)

Devanagari script

बुद्धि न कुरुतेडपत्ये तथा राज्यानुशासने । सत्वं व्यपेक्षया भ्रातु:ः संतानाय कुलस्य च

Transliteration

buddhiṁ na kurute ’patye tathā rājyānuśāsane | sattvaṁ vyapekṣayā bhrātuḥ santānāya kulasya ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Il n’emploie pas son discernement ni pour assurer une descendance ni pour gouverner le royaume selon la juste règle ; mais, par égard pour le bien de son frère et pour la continuité de la lignée, il se retient et agit en gardant cela à l’esprit.

Word by Word

बुद्धिम्intelligence, judgment

नnot

कुरुतेdoes, applies (his mind)

अपत्येin/with regard to offspring

तथाlikewise, similarly

राज्यin the kingdom, in rulership

अनुशासनेin governance/administration

सत्त्वम्strength, courage, vigor

व्यपेक्षयाby consideration of, in view of

भ्रातुःof (his) brother

संतानायfor progeny/continuity (of line)

कुलस्यof the family

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic tension between personal prudence in matters of heirs and governance versus prioritizing the brother’s welfare and the continuity of the dynasty; it praises restraint and family-centered responsibility over self-assertion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a figure who refrains from asserting his own counsel or initiative regarding producing heirs and ruling the kingdom, choosing instead to act with deference to his brother and with the aim of preserving the family line.