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Shloka 11

अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira

ततः स्वाचरणो विप्र: सम्मतो<र्थविशारद: । साम्बाख्यो बहूवृचो राजन्‌ वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे,वे ब्राह्मण देवता सदाचारी, सबके माननीय और अर्थज्ञानमें निपुण थे, उनका नाम था साम्ब। वे वेदके विद्वान, निर्भय होकर बोलनेवाले और बुद्धिमान थे। वे महाराजको सम्मान देकर सारी सभाको प्रसन्न करके बोलनेको उद्यत हुए। उन्होंने राजासे इस प्रकार कहा --

tataḥ svācaraṇo vipraḥ sammato 'rthaviśāradaḥ | sāmbākhyo bahūvṛco rājan vaktuṃ samupacakrame ||

そのとき、行い正しく、万人に敬われ、聖なる教えの意義と用い方に通じたブラーフマナがいた。名をサーンバといい、リグ・ヴェーダの学識ある誦者である。王よ、彼は語り始めた。しかるべく王を敬い、集会の一同を喜ばせてから、王に申し述べようとし、次のように言った。

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
स्वाचरणःof good conduct
स्वाचरणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वाचरण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विप्रःbrahmin
विप्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सम्मतःesteemed, approved
सम्मतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्मत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अर्थविशारदःskilled in meanings/purport
अर्थविशारदः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअर्थविशारद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
साम्बाख्यःnamed Sāmba
साम्बाख्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसाम्बाख्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बहूवृचःknower of many Ṛgvedic hymns (Bahvṛca)
बहूवृचः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबहूवृच
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
वक्तुम्to speak
वक्तुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormInfinitive (tumun)
समुपचक्रमेbegan, set about
समुपचक्रमे:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+उप+क्रम्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
S
Sāmba (a Brahmin)
T
the King (rājan)
T
the assembly (implied)

Educational Q&A

The verse foregrounds the ethical authority of speech: counsel should come from one grounded in right conduct (svācaraṇa) and true understanding (arthaviśārada). It also models dharmic decorum—honoring the king and harmonizing the assembly before speaking.

Vaiśampāyana introduces a learned Brahmin named Sāmba, a Ṛgvedic specialist, who—after paying respect to the king and pleasing the gathered court—begins his address, setting up the counsel that follows.