Shloka 3

Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)

Devanagari script

कच्चित्‌ तेडपि निरातड्का वसन्ति विषये तव । कच्चिद्‌ वर्तसि पौराणीं वृत्तिं राजर्षिसेविताम्‌

Transliteration

kaccit te 'pi nirātaṅkā vasanti viṣaye tava | kaccid vartasi paurāṇīṁ vṛttiṁ rājarṣi-sevitām ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Tes sujets vivent-ils dans ton royaume à l’abri de la crainte et du trouble ? Et te conduis-tu selon l’antique code de gouvernement, vénéré par le temps, que pratiquaient et maintenaient les rois-sages (rajarṣi) ?»

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether? (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• ते: they (those people)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• अपि: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• निरातङ्काः: free from fear, untroubled
• निरातङ्काः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरातङ्क
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• वसन्ति: live/dwell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: present, third, plural, parasmaipada

• विषये: in the realm/territory
• विषये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• तव: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: genitive, singular

• कच्चित्: whether?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• वर्तसि: you conduct yourself / you follow
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: present, second, singular, ātmanepada

• पौराणीम्: ancient, traditional
• पौराणीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौराणी
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• वृत्तिम्: conduct, practice, way of life
• वृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• राजर्षि-सेविताम्: practised/served by royal sages
• राजर्षि-सेविताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजर्षि-सेवित
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• subjects (prajaḥ, implied)
• the realm/kingdom (viṣaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is measured by two standards: ensuring the people live without fear (security and justice) and personally adhering to the time-tested ethical norms of rajadharma exemplified by the royal sages.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, speaking to the reigning king (contextually Yudhiṣṭhira), inquires about the condition of the kingdom—whether the populace is safe and whether the king follows the ancient righteous model of governance.