Shloka 18

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

प्रववर्ष च तत्रैव सहसा तोयमुल्बणम्‌ । कर्षकस्याचरन्‌ विधघ्नं भगवान्‌ पाकशासन:,उस समय वहाँ पाकशासन भगवान्‌ इन्द्रने किसानके कार्यमें विध्न डालते हुए सहसा भयंकर वर्षा की

Transliteration

pravavarṣa ca tatraiva sahasā toyamulbaṇam | karṣakasyācaran vighnaṁ bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ ||

Translation

Then, right there, Pākaśāsana (Indra) suddenly poured down a fierce, overwhelming rain, deliberately creating an obstacle to the farmer’s work. The episode highlights how even divine power may test human effort and resolve, turning ordinary labor into a field for endurance and discernment.

Word by Word

• प्रववर्ष: rained down
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), perfect (narrative past), 3, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

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

• सहसा: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• तोयम्: water (rain-water)
• तोयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• उल्बणम्: violent/excessive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उल्बण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कर्षकस्य: of the farmer
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• आचरन्: doing/performing
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• विधघ्नम्: obstructive; causing hindrance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधघ्न
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• भगवान्: the blessed lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पाकशासनः: Pākāśāsana (Indra, punisher of Pāka)
• पाकशासनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाकशासन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Indra (Pākaśāsana)
• farmer (karṣaka)
• rain/water (toya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that obstacles—sometimes even arising from powerful forces—can function as tests of steadiness and purpose. Ethical strength is shown by continuing rightful work without losing discernment or integrity when confronted by sudden disruption.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa narrates that Indra, called Pākaśāsana, suddenly unleashes a violent downpour at that very spot, intentionally hindering the farmer’s activity and interrupting his work.