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Shloka 30

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

ब्राह्मणानां प्रतिष्ठा35सीत्‌ स्रोतसामिव सागर: । क्षत्रं च ब्रह्म चैवेह यो5भ्यतिष्ठत्‌ परंतप:

brāhmaṇānāṁ pratiṣṭhā sīt srotasām iva sāgaraḥ | kṣatraṁ ca brahma caiveha yo 'bhyatiṣṭhat paraṁtapaḥ ||

Il était l’appui inébranlable des brāhmaṇas, tel l’océan qui reçoit et apaise le courant des rivières. Ici, il soutenait d’un même élan la puissance royale et le savoir sacré — lui, le brûleur d’ennemis.

ब्राह्मणानाम्of the Brahmins
ब्राह्मणानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्रतिष्ठाsupport; foundation; standing
प्रतिष्ठा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रतिष्ठा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular
स्रोतसाम्of the streams
स्रोतसाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootस्रोतस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
इवlike; as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
सागरःthe ocean
सागरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसागर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्षत्रम्kshatra; royal power; warrior order
क्षत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ब्रह्मbrahman; sacred knowledge; priestly power
ब्रह्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed; just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
इहhere; in this world
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभ्यतिष्ठत्upheld; supported; stood over
अभ्यतिष्ठत्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (अभि-)
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular
परंतपःthe scorcher of foes (epithet)
परंतपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरंतप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

धृतराष्ट उवाच

धृतराष्ट्र (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇas)
सागर (Ocean/Sea)
स्रोतस् (Streams/Rivers)
क्षत्र (Kṣatra—royal power)
ब्रह्म (Brahma—sacred knowledge)

Educational Q&A

The verse praises an ideal figure who becomes a stabilizing refuge for the learned (Brāhmaṇas) while also sustaining rightful royal authority (kṣatra). Ethically, it points to balanced governance: power should be anchored in sacred learning and moral order, not separated from it.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a celebrated person (referred to with the epithet paraṁtapaḥ) as a pillar of society—supporting Brahmins like the ocean supports rivers—and as one who maintained both the warrior-kingly sphere and the Brahminical sphere together, highlighting his stature amid the Drona Parva war-time recollection.