Shloka 10

Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation

Sumitra Itihāsa Begins

Devanagari script

शत्रुनगरीपर विजय पानेवाले वीर! तुमने भी तो महान्‌ ऐश्वर्य प्राप्त किया है? तुम्हारे समस्त भाई, मित्र और सम्बन्धी सदा तुम्हारी सेवामें उपस्थित रहते हैं ।।

Transliteration

ācchādayasi prāvārān aśnāsi piśitāudanam | ājāneyā vahanty aśvāḥ kenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ||

Translation

Dhritarāṣṭra demanda : «Ô héros vainqueur des cités ennemies, n’as-tu pas, toi aussi, obtenu une grande puissance et richesse ? Tous tes frères, tes amis et tes parents se tiennent sans cesse à ton service. Tu te drapes de beaux vêtements, tu manges riz et viande en mets opulents, et des chevaux de race tirent ton char. Pourquoi donc deviens-tu pâle et maigre ?»

Word by Word

• आच्छादयसि: you cover/put on
• आच्छादयसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आच्छादय् (आ-छाद् caus.)
• Form: Lat (present), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रावारान्: outer garments/cloaks
• प्रावारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावार (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• अश्नासि: you eat
• अश्नासि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Lat (present), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• पिशितौदनम्: rice/food with meat (meat-broth/meal)
• पिशितौदनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशित + ओदन (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आजानेयाः: well-bred/noble (horses)
• आजानेयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आजानेय (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• वहन्ति: they carry/draw
• वहन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह्
• Form: Lat (present), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• अश्वाः: horses
• अश्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• केन: by what? / why?
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम् (pratipadika)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• असि: you are
• असि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Lat (present), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• हरिणः: pale/whitish (lit. tawny/deer-like)
• हरिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरिण (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कृशः: thin/emaciated
• कृशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (pratipadika)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• prāvāra (fine garments/cloaks)
• piśitāudana (meat-and-rice food)
• ājāneya aśva (thoroughbred horses)
• ratha (chariot, implied by horses drawing)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

External prosperity—fine clothing, rich food, and royal conveyance—cannot remove inner torment. The verse points to the moral-psychological truth emphasized in Śānti Parva: adharma, grief, or remorse can consume a person even amid abundance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a victorious warrior (contextually, a figure who has gained power and comforts after conflict) and wonders why he appears pallid and emaciated despite enjoying royal luxuries and constant support from relatives and allies.