Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

तथा शैलालयो राजा भगदत्तपितामह: । तपोबलेनैव नृपो महेन्द्रसदनं गत:,इसी प्रकार भगदत्तके पिता महाराजा शैलालय भी तपस्याके बलसे ही इन्द्रलोकको गये हैं

Transliteration

tathā śailālayaḥ rājā bhagadatta-pitāmahaḥ | tapo-balenaiva nṛpo mahendra-sadanaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

એ જ રીતે ભગદત્તના પિતામહ રાજા શૈલાલય પણ માત્ર તપોબળથી મહેન્દ્રના સદનને ગયા।

Word by Word

तथाthus, likewise

शैलालयःŚailālaya (proper name)

राजाking

भगदत्तपितामहःBhagadatta's grandfather

तपोबलेनby the power of austerity

एवindeed, only

नृपःthe king

महेन्द्रसदनम्Indra's abode (heaven)

गतःwent, has gone

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Śailālaya

Bhagadatta

Mahendra (Indra)

Mahendra-sadana (Indra-loka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s valuation of tapas (austerity and disciplined self-restraint) as a potent source of spiritual merit capable of leading even a king to Indra’s heaven, emphasizing inner discipline over mere worldly power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada continues citing exemplars: he mentions King Śailālaya, identified as Bhagadatta’s grandsire, and states that this king attained Indra’s abode through the strength of his austerities.