Shloka 54

धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Sañjaya on Arjuna’s Indraloka report and the political consequences

Devanagari script

अवेदयच्च शक्रस्य चित्रसेनो5पि सर्वश: । तत आनाय्य तनयं विविक्ते हरिवाहन:

Transliteration

avedayac ca śakrasya citraseno 'pi sarvaśaḥ | tata ānāyya tanayaṃ vivikte harivāhanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Chitrasena, too, reported everything in full to Śakra (Indra). Then Harivāhana (Indra), having brought his son to a secluded place, proceeded to speak with him privately—signaling the gravity of the matter and the need for discreet counsel before action.

Word by Word

अवेदयत्informed, made known

चand

शक्रस्यto/for Śakra (Indra); of Śakra

चित्रसेनःCitraseṇa (a Gandharva)

अपिalso, even

सर्वशःentirely, in every way

ततःthen, thereafter

आनाय्यhaving brought

तनयम्the son

विविक्तेin a secluded (place)

हरिवाहनःHari-vāhana (Indra, whose mount is the tawny horses)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śakra (Indra)

Chitrasena

Indra's son (tanaya)

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?

The verse highlights prudent governance and ethical discretion: when sensitive matters arise, a responsible authority first seeks complete information and then gives counsel privately, avoiding rash or public escalation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Chitrasena reports the full situation to Indra. Indra then takes his son aside to a secluded place, indicating an impending private instruction or decision based on the report.