Shloka 6

एकचक्रानिवासप्रस्तावः | Ekacakrā Sojourn—Vyāsa’s Consolation and Directive

Devanagari script

ल्ण्ह्वार जा तर के ७ 9 6 | "05 (806 ॥ न टलल अं 228: 2622 का, हीं ! ७.9” | पाण्डवा धृतराष्ट्रेण प्रेषिता वारणावतम्‌ । उत्सवे विहरिष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्‌,'पिताजीने पाण्डवोंको वारणावत जानेकी आज्ञा दी है। वे उनके आदेशसे (कुछ दिनोंतक) वहाँ रहकर उत्सवमें भाग लेंगे--मेलेमें घूमे-फिरेंगे

Transliteration

Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: pāṇḍavā dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa preṣitā vāraṇāvatam | utsave viharīṣyanti dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śāsanāt ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The Pāṇḍavas have been sent by Dhṛtarāṣṭra to Vāraṇāvata. In obedience to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s command, they will stay there for a time and take part in the festivities—moving about and enjoying the public celebration. Beneath the outwardly courteous order lies the court’s political control over the heirs, foreshadowing the ethical tension between royal authority and the safety of the righteous.

Word by Word

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धृतराष्ट्रेण: by Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रेषिताः: sent / dispatched
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वारणावतम्: to Varanavata
• वारणावतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारणावत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्सवे: at the festival
• उत्सवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विहरिष्यन्ति: they will sport / enjoy / roam
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हृ
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• धृतराष्ट्रस्य: of Dhritarashtra
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शासनात्: from (i.e., due to) the command / order
• शासनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vāraṇāvata
• utsava (festival)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal commands can appear benign (a festival trip) yet function as instruments of control. Ethically, it invites reflection on discerning intention behind authority and on the vulnerability of the righteous when power is wielded without dharmic transparency.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that Dhṛtarāṣṭra has ordered the Pāṇḍavas to go to Vāraṇāvata and enjoy a festival there. This sets the stage for the broader Vāraṇāvata episode, where the journey is connected with hostile plotting against them.