Shloka 17

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

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

Devanagari script

साधुसंग्रहणाच्चैव पापनिग्रहणात्‌ तथा । दुर्बलाश्ैव सततं नान्वेष्टव्या बलीयसा

Transliteration

sādhusaṅgrahaṇāc caiva pāpanigrahaṇāt tathā | durbalāś caiva satataṃ nānveṣṭavyā balīyasā ||

Translation

善き人々との交わりを深め、また悪しき者は拘禁と刑罰によって抑えよ。強大な王は、弱き敵をいつまでも追い回してはならぬ。その力は、秩序を保ち国を守るためにこそ向けられるべきである。

Word by Word

• साधु: with/through the good (virtuous person)
• साधु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• संग्रहणात्: from association/collection (keeping company)
• संग्रहणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्रहण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

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

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

• पाप: of the wicked/sinful (people)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• निग्रहणात्: from restraint/suppression (punishing/curbing)
• निग्रहणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रहण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• तथा: so/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• दुर्बलाः: the weak (ones/enemies)
• दुर्बलाः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• सततम्: always/constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम्

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अन्वेष्टव्याः: are not to be pursued/sought
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष् (अन्वेष्) + तव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Gerundive (tavya), passive obligation

• बलीयसा: by the stronger (person/king)
• बलीयसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (comparative: बलीयस्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s duty is twofold: strengthen society by supporting the good, and protect it by restraining wrongdoers; strategic restraint is also advised—do not waste power in incessantly pursuing a weak foe.

What is happening in the narrative?

A senior voice offers counsel on kingship and policy: promote the virtuous, punish the wicked, and exercise measured strategy rather than obsessive pursuit of minor threats.