Shloka 34

धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts

Devanagari script

विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है, वही मेरा सुहृद्‌ है। विपरीत आचरण करनेवाला मेरा शत्रु है। वह मेरे दण्डका भागी होगा

Transliteration

vaiparītakṛc ca me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “A man who acts contrary (to this) is my enemy; but one who lives under restraint and obedience is to be regarded as a loyal supporter.” In context, Yudhiṣṭhira—renowned for compassion—repeatedly reminded his brothers and ministers that King Dhṛtarāṣṭra was worthy of honor. Whoever remained under Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s command was counted as Yudhiṣṭhira’s well-wisher; whoever behaved in opposition would be treated as an enemy and liable to punishment. The ethical emphasis is on disciplined conduct, respect for elders, and governance through adherence to rightful authority rather than personal hostility.

Word by Word

• {'vaiparītakṛt': 'one who acts oppositely

• a contrarian, one who behaves against instructions', 'me': 'my', 'śatruḥ': 'enemy', 'niyamyaḥ': 'to be restrained/regulated

• one who should be kept under discipline (or one who is disciplined)', 'ca': 'and', 'bhavet': 'would be/is to be', 'naraḥ': 'man, person', 'ājñā': 'command, order', 'adhīna': 'subject to, under the authority of', 'suhṛd': 'well-wisher, friend', 'daṇḍa': 'punishment

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• brothers of Yudhiṣṭhira (Pāṇḍavas)
• ministers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical governance: honoring rightful authority (especially elders like Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and maintaining disciplined obedience is treated as loyalty, while deliberate contrariness is treated as enmity and becomes liable to royal punishment (daṇḍa).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports Yudhiṣṭhira’s instruction to his brothers and ministers: Dhṛtarāṣṭra is to be revered; those who follow his commands are Yudhiṣṭhira’s allies, and those who act against them will be regarded as enemies and punished.