Shloka 16

धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति व्यवहार-रक्षा-नियमनोपदेशः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Administration, Punishment, and Daily Governance

Devanagari script

वयं भीष्मस्य दास्याम: प्रेतकार्य तु फाल्गुन

Transliteration

vayaṃ bhīṣmasya dāsyāmaḥ pretakāryaṃ tu phālguna

Translation

Wahai Phālguna, kami akan menunaikan upacara bagi Bhīṣma sebagaimana layaknya bagi yang telah berpulang—melaksanakan śrāddha dan kewajiban suci yang menjadi hutang dharma kami kepadanya.

Word by Word

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhishma
• भीष्मस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दास्यामः: we will give / we shall perform (give as offering)
• दास्यामः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दान)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Plural

• प्रेतकार्य: funeral rites (duty for the departed)
• प्रेतकार्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतकार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• फाल्गुन: O Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• pretakārya (funeral rites)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as repayment of moral and social debt: even amid political upheaval, one must honor elders and benefactors through prescribed rites, expressing gratitude and upholding communal order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a resolve addressed to Arjuna (Phālguna): the speakers intend to carry out Bhīṣma’s post-death rites (pretakārya), emphasizing proper observance of funerary obligations.