Shloka 14

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest

Devanagari script

क्रमेण युगपत्‌ सर्व व्यवसायं महाबल: । पीडनं स्तम्भनं चैव कोशभड्स्तथैव च

Transliteration

krameṇa yugapat sarva-vyavasāyaṃ mahābalaḥ | pīḍanaṃ stambhanaṃ caiva kośabhraṃśas tathaiva ca || rājendra |

Translation

ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「王の中の最上よ。大いなる力をもつ統治者は、敵に対して国策のすべてを動かすべきである――段階を追ってでも、一挙にでもよい。彼を悩ませ、動きを封じ、さらにその国庫をも破滅へと導け。」

Word by Word

• {'krameṇa': 'in sequence, gradually', 'yugapat': 'simultaneously, all at once', 'sarva-vyavasāyam': 'the whole enterprise/strategy

• total effort and measures', 'mahābalaḥ': 'one of great strength

• a powerful (king)', 'pīḍanam': 'pressing, harassing, inflicting pressure/pain', 'stambhanam': 'stopping, immobilizing, obstructing movement', 'kośa': 'treasury, royal finances', 'bhraṃśaḥ': 'fall, ruin, destruction', 'rājendra': 'O king of kings

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• rājā (king)
• śatru (enemy)
• kośa (treasury)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a rāja-dharma principle of statecraft: when confronting an enemy, a king should apply comprehensive measures—gradually or simultaneously—by pressuring the opponent, restricting his mobility, and undermining his financial base, since resources and freedom of action sustain hostile power.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Āśramavāsika Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking and articulating practical counsel on kingship and dealing with adversaries, emphasizing coordinated political and strategic action rather than isolated or hesitant measures.