Shloka 173

युधिष्ठिरस्य कृष्णार्जुनादि-समाश्वासनम्

Yudhiṣṭhira’s reassurance and praise of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki

Devanagari script

पृथिवी धर्मराजाय शमेनैव प्रदीयताम्‌ । “यदि तुमने भागनेका ही विचार कर लिया है, तब यह पृथ्वीका राज्य शान्तिपूर्वक ही धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको सौंप दो

Transliteration

pṛthivī dharmarājāya śamenaiva pradīyatām |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Let the earth (the kingdom) be handed over to Dharmarāja by peaceful means alone. If you have truly resolved only to flee, then surrender this sovereignty calmly to Yudhiṣṭhira.”

Word by Word

• पृथिवी: the earth (kingdom/land)
• पृथिवी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मराजाय: to Dharmaraja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मराजाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• शमेन: by peace; peacefully
• शमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• प्रदीयताम्: let it be given; may it be handed over
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (प्र + दा)
• Form: Imperative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Ātmanepada (passive/impersonal sense)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Pṛthivī (the earth/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

If one lacks the resolve to uphold a claim through righteous effort, it is ethically preferable to relinquish power peacefully rather than prolong violence or act from fear. Legitimate sovereignty should align with dharma and self-restraint (śama).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports counsel urging that, if the opposing side is inclined to retreat, they should avoid further bloodshed and instead transfer the kingdom peacefully to Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, acknowledging his rightful claim.