Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala

Devanagari script

तद्‌ ददातु भवान्‌ वित्तं यावदिच्छसि पार्थिव । त्वमी श्वरो 5स्य राज्यस्य प्राणानामपि भारत,'पृथ्वीनाथ! भरतनन्दन! आप जितना धन दान करना चाहें, करें। आप मेरे राज्य और प्राणोंके भी ईश्वर हैं!

Transliteration

tad dadātu bhavān vittaṁ yāvad icchasi pārthiva | tvam īśvaro 'sya rājyasya prāṇānām api bhārata ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「それゆえ王よ、望むだけの財を施しとして与えよ。バーラタよ、あなたはこの国の主であり——私の命の主でもある。」

Word by Word

तत्that (thing)

ददातुlet (him) give / may (he) give

भवान्you (honorific)

वित्तम्wealth, money

यावत्as much as / so long as

इच्छसिyou desire, you wish

पार्थिवO king

त्वम्you

ईश्वरःlord, master

अस्यof this

राज्यस्यof the kingdom

प्राणानाम्of (our/my) lives, vital breaths

अपिeven, also

भारतO Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhārata (address to a Bharata-descendant king)

pārthiva (the king, addressed)

rājya (kingdom)

prāṇa (life-breath/life)

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 upholds dāna (charitable giving) as a dharmic prerogative of a righteous king and underscores the ethical bond of allegiance: the speaker acknowledges the king’s legitimate authority over wealth, realm, and even personal life, emphasizing duty, gratitude, and ordered sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a respectful speaker addresses a king, urging him to donate as much wealth as he wishes. The speaker simultaneously declares complete submission—recognizing the king as master of the kingdom and even of the speaker’s life—thereby reinforcing royal authority and the moral context of giving.