Shloka 34

एतदाज्ञाय वचन सर्वास्तानब्रवीत्‌ तदा । जीवितं रक्षत नृपा: शासन प्रतिगृह्यताम्‌,उनकी ये बातें सुनकर अर्जुनने उनसे कहा--'राजाओ! अपने प्राणोंकी रक्षा करो। इसका एक ही उपाय है, हमारा शासन स्वीकार कर लो”

etad ājñāya vacanaṁ sarvāṁs tān abravīt tadā | jīvitaṁ rakṣata nṛpāḥ śāsanaṁ pratigṛhyatām ||

Having understood this situation and its import, he then addressed all those kings: “Protect your lives, O rulers. There is one course for you—accept our authority.” The statement frames submission not merely as political compliance but as the ethical alternative to needless destruction, offering preservation of life in place of further conflict.

एतत्this (thing)
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आज्ञायhaving known/understood
आज्ञाय:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
वचनम्speech/words
वचनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तान्those (men)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
जीवितम्life
जीवितम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजीवित
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
रक्षतprotect (you all)!
रक्षत:
TypeVerb
Rootरक्ष्
FormImperative (Lot), 2nd, Plural, Parasmaipada
नृपाःO kings!
नृपाः:
TypeNoun
Rootनृप
FormMasculine, Vocative, Plural
शासनम्rule/command
शासनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशासन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
प्रतिगृह्यताम्let (it) be accepted / accept (it)
प्रतिगृह्यताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-ग्रह्
FormImperative (Lot), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive/impersonal sense: 'let it be accepted'

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
kings (nṛpāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse emphasizes the ethical priority of preserving life and avoiding futile bloodshed: when defeat is evident, accepting rightful authority is presented as a dharmic, life-protecting alternative to continued resistance.

Vaiśampāyana narrates that, after grasping the situation, a speaker addresses the assembled kings and urges them to save their lives by accepting the prevailing rule/command—signaling a move from confrontation toward submission and order.