Shloka 34

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 73: Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dispute, Confinement in the Well, and Yayāti’s Rescue

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धर्मिष्ठतां वव्रे राज्याच्चास्खलनं तथा । शकुन्तला पौरवाणां दुष्पन्तहितकाम्यया,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तब शकुन्तलाने दुष्यन्तके हितकी इच्छासे यह वर माँगा कि पुरुवंशी नरेश सदा धर्ममें स्थिर रहें और वे कभी राज्यसे भ्रष्ट न हों

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato dharmiṣṭhatāṁ vavre rājyāc cāskhalanaṁ tathā | Śakuntalā Pauravāṇāṁ Duṣyanta-hita-kāmyayā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors Śakuntalā, désirant le bien de Duṣyanta, demanda cette grâce : que les rois de la lignée des Paurava demeurent fermement établis dans le dharma, et qu’ils ne déchoient jamais de leur souveraineté.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

ततःthen/thereupon

धर्मिष्ठताम्steadfastness in dharma (righteousness)

वव्रेchose/asked (as a boon)

राज्यात्from the kingdom/from sovereignty

चand

अस्खलनम्non-falling; not slipping (from it)

तथाlikewise/also

शकुन्तलाŚakuntalā

पौरवाणाम्of the Pauravas (Puru’s descendants)

दुष्पन्तof Duṣyanta

हितwelfare/good

काम्ययाdesiring (with the desire)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śakuntalā

Duṣyanta

Pauravas (descendants of Puru)

rājya (sovereignty/kingship)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Rulership is portrayed as secure and meaningful only when grounded in dharma; the ideal boon is not mere power but unwavering righteousness and stability in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakuntalā, thinking of Duṣyanta’s good, requests a boon that the Paurava kings remain devoted to dharma and never lose their kingdom—linking dynastic continuity with ethical steadfastness.