Shloka 35

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन उवाच आचार्य त्रिविधा योनी राज्ञां शास्त्रविनिश्षये | सत्कुलीनश्नव शूरश्न यश्व सेनां प्रकर्षति,तब दुर्योधनने कहा--आचार्य! शास्त्रीय सिद्धान्तके अनुसार राजाओंकी तीन योनियाँ हैं--उत्तम कुलमें उत्पन्न पुरुष, शूरवीर तथा सेनापति (अत: शूरवीर होनेके कारण कर्ण भी राजा ही हैं)

Transliteration

duryodhana uvāca | ācārya trividhā yonī rājñāṃ śāstraviniścaye | satkulīnaś ca vīraś ca senāpatir yaś ca senāṃ prakarṣati ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “O Teacher, according to the settled conclusions of the treatises, there are three recognized ‘sources’ of kingship among rulers: one born in a noble lineage, one who is a proven hero, and one who, as a commander, can lead and drive an army to excellence. By this standard, valor itself establishes royal status.”

Word by Word

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

उवाचsaid

आचार्यO teacher

त्रिविधाःthreefold

योनयःorigins / sources / classes

राज्ञाम्of kings

शास्त्र-विनिश्चयेin the determination of the śāstras / according to śāstric decision

सत्कुलीनःborn in a good family

चand

शूरःa hero / brave man

चand

यःwho

सेनाम्army

प्रकर्षतिdraws/attracts/commands (leads forth)

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Drona (ācārya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal legitimacy is argued to rest on recognized criteria: noble birth, proven valor, or effective military leadership. The verse frames kingship as not only hereditary but also merit-based through heroism and command.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana addresses his teacher (Droṇa) and cites śāstric authority to justify recognizing a warrior’s royal standing on the basis of valor and command—supporting his political stance about who deserves the status and privileges of a king.