Shloka 16

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा बहून्‌ क्लेशान्‌ विचिन्तयन्‌ । सिंहव्याप्रगजाकीर्णामुदीचीं प्रययौ दिशम्‌,तदनन्तर राजा युधिष्ठिर अनेक क्लेशोंका चिन्तन करते हुए सिंह, व्याप्र और हाथियोंसे भरी हुई उत्तर-दिशाकी ओर चल दिये

Transliteration

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bahūn kleśān vicintayan | siṃhavyāpragajākīrṇām udīcīṃ prayayau diśam ||

Translation

それからユディシュティラ王は、降りかかった数々の艱難を思いめぐらしつつ、獅子・虎・象の群れる北方へと進んだ。この偈は彼の不動の決意を示す。危険と苦難のただ中にあっても、彼は絶望に沈まず、沈着な熟慮をもって旅を続けるのである。

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira

राजाthe king

बहून्many

क्लेशान्afflictions, troubles

विचिन्तयन्thinking over, reflecting on

सिंहव्याघ्रगजाकीर्णाम्filled with lions, tigers, and elephants

उदीचीम्the northern (direction/region)

प्रययौwent forth, proceeded

दिशम्direction

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

north (udīcī diś)

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 steadfastness and thoughtful endurance: a dharmic leader does not abandon duty when faced with hardship and danger, but proceeds with a reflective, disciplined mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Yudhiṣṭhira, contemplating many troubles, continues the journey and moves toward the northern direction, described as a wild region teeming with lions, tigers, and elephants.