Shloka 13

धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court

Devanagari script

श्यालो द्रोणस्य यश्चवासीद्‌ दयितो ब्राह्मणो महान्‌ | सच तस्मिन्‌ महेष्वास: कृप: समभवत्‌ तदा,द्रोणाचार्यके प्रिय साले महान्‌ ब्राह्मण महा-धनुर्धर कृपाचार्य तो उन दिनों सदा धृतराष्ट्रके ही पास रहते थे

Transliteration

śyālo droṇasya yaś cāvāsīd dayito brāhmaṇo mahān | sa ca tasmin maheṣvāsaḥ kṛpaḥ samabhavat tadā ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ドローナの義弟にあたる、彼に愛された高名なバラモンこそ大弓手クリパであり、その頃クリパは持国王の近くに留まり、傍らにあった。この偈は、戦禍の荒廃の後にも、血縁の絆と信頼される助言が王家をなお形づくっていたことを示す。

Word by Word

श्यालःbrother-in-law

द्रोणस्यof Droṇa

यःwho

चand

अवासीद्dwelt/was residing

दयितःdear, beloved

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

महान्great

सःhe

चand

तस्मिन्in him / in that (person)

महेष्वासःgreat archer (lit. having a great bow)

कृपःKṛpa

समभवत्became / came to be

तदाthen, at that time

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical role of trusted, learned elders in stabilizing a kingdom after catastrophe: kinship and Brahmin counsel (through Kṛpa) remain central to sustaining royal duty and continuity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana identifies Kṛpa as Droṇa’s brother-in-law and a great archer, noting that he was present and residing near/with Dhṛtarāṣṭra during this period, indicating Kṛpa’s continued proximity to the Kuru court.