Shloka 9

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 147 — Kanyā-paridevita

The daughter’s lament on lineage and protection

Devanagari script

यथा तस्य तथा नस्त्व॑ं निर्विशेषा वयं त्वयि | भवतश्च यथा तस्य पालयास्मान्‌ यथा कवि:,“तुम विदुरजीके लिये जैसे आदरणीय और विश्वसनीय हो, वैसे ही हमारे लिये भी हो। तुमसे हमारा कोई अन्तर नहीं है। हमलोग जिस प्रकार विदुरजीके पालनीय हैं, वैसे ही तुम्हारे भी हैं। जैसे वे हमारी रक्षा करते हैं, वैसे ही तुम भी करो

Transliteration

yathā tasya tathā nas tvaṁ nirviśeṣā vayaṁ tvayi | bhavataś ca yathā tasya pālayāsmān yathā kaviḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “As you are to him, so be to us as well. For us there is no distinction in you; we rely on you without difference. And just as he protects and guides us, so do you protect us too—like a wise and discerning guardian.”

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'just as

• in the same manner as', 'tasya': 'of him

• his', 'tathā': 'so

• likewise', 'nas': 'to us

• for us', 'tvam': 'you', 'nirviśeṣāḥ': 'without distinction

• making no difference', 'vayam': 'we', 'tvayi': 'in you

• with regard to you', 'bhavataḥ': 'of you

• from you (honorific/genitive)', 'ca': 'and', 'pālayāsmān': 'protect us

• take care of us', 'kaviḥ': 'a wise person

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vidura (implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes impartial care and equal regard: a trusted protector or counselor should not discriminate among dependents, but extend the same reliability and guardianship to all who seek refuge.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) appeals to a respected figure to treat them with the same trust and protection that he gives to another revered person (contextually, Vidura), asking for equal guardianship and wise oversight.