Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

नतां प्रीतिं परामाप पुत्रेभ्य: स कुरूद्गधहः

Transliteration

natāṁ prītiṁ parām āpa putrebhyaḥ sa kurūdgadhaḥ | viparītakaś ca me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: That Kurū leader won the highest affection from his sons. He would, remaining ever composed, tell his brothers and ministers: “King Dhṛtarāṣṭra is worthy of honor for me and for all of you. Whoever lives in obedience to his command is my well-wisher; whoever acts contrary is my enemy, and he will fall under my discipline and punishment.”

Word by Word

• नताम्: bowed/obeisant (state of submission)
• नताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नत (√नम्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रीतिम्: affection, satisfaction
• प्रीतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पराम्: supreme, highest
• पराम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आप: obtained, attained
• आप: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• पुत्रेभ्यः: from the sons
• पुत्रेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरूद्गधहः: Kuru-? (corrupt/uncertain reading)
• कुरूद्गधहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरूद्गध (अनिश्चित पाठ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विपरीत: contrary, opposite
• विपरीत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मे: my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• शत्रुः: enemy
• शत्रुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नियम्य: having restrained/controlled
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√यम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भवेत्: would be / should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Kuru dynasty
• brothers (Pāṇḍavas, implied)
• ministers (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājadharma: a righteous ruler honors elders and legitimate authority, defines friendship as loyal adherence to rightful command, and treats deliberate disobedience as a punishable breach of order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s conduct after the war: he maintains reverence toward Dhṛtarāṣṭra and instructs his circle that those who follow Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s directives are allies, while those who oppose them will be restrained and punished.