Shloka 2

Vidura’s Message to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Authorization for Dāna and Public Welfare (विदुरवाक्यम्—दानानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

द्वैपायन: सशिष्यश्नष सिद्धाक्षान्ये मनीषिण: । शतयूपश्न राजर्षिव॑द्ध: परमधार्मिक:

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca — Dvaipāyanaḥ saśiṣyaś ca siddhāś cānye manīṣiṇaḥ | śatayūpaś ca rājarṣir vṛddhaḥ paramadhārmikaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) arriva avec ses disciples, accompagné d’autres êtres accomplis et de sages clairvoyants. Avec eux vint aussi le vieux voyant royal Śatayūpa, homme d’une droiture suprême, venu en ce lieu pour rencontrer le roi Dhṛtarāṣṭra. La scène souligne la gravité morale de la vie en forêt de Dhṛtarāṣṭra : les êtres spirituellement accomplis ne se rassemblent pas pour le spectacle, mais pour honorer le dharma et conduire un roi, à l’heure dernière, vers la rectitude intérieure.

Word by Word

• द्वैपायनः: Dvaipayana (Vyasa)
• द्वैपायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स-शिष्यः: with disciples
• स-शिष्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धाः: Siddhas (perfected beings)
• सिद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनीषिणः: wise men/sages
• मनीषिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शतयूपः: Shatayupa (a king-sage)
• शतयूपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतयूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजर्षि-वृद्धः: an aged royal sage
• राजर्षि-वृद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजर्षि-वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परम-धार्मिकः: supremely righteous
• परम-धार्मिकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-धार्मिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• disciples of Vyāsa
• Siddhas
• Manīṣins (wise sages)
• Śatayūpa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma at the end of life: when a ruler enters forest-discipline, the truly accomplished (sages, siddhas) gather to support ethical clarity and spiritual steadiness. Righteousness is portrayed as a living standard that draws the company of the wise.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Dhṛtarāṣṭra has taken to forest life, eminent figures—Vyāsa with disciples, other siddhas and sages, and the aged royal sage Śatayūpa—arrive to meet him, marking a significant moment of counsel and sanctification around the retired king.