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Shloka 3

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament on Kāla and Daiva after Draupadī’s Recovery (आरण्यक पर्व, अध्याय २५७)

एतच्छुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धार्तराष्ट्रो विशाम्पते । आज्ञापयामास नृप: क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्‌,राजन! यह सुनकर नृपश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनने उस क्रतुराजको प्रारम्भ करनेकी आज्ञा दी

etac chrutvā nṛpaśreṣṭho dhārtarāṣṭro viśāmpate | ājñāpayāmāsa nṛpaḥ kraturājapravartanam ||

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。これを聞くや、王たちの中の最勝者—ドリタラーシュトラの子(ドゥルヨーダナ)よ、民の主よ—は「祭祀の王」(クラトゥラージャ)を開始せよと命じた。

एतत्this (thing)
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Prior action (having heard)
नृपश्रेष्ठःthe best of kings
नृपश्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृपश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धार्तराष्ट्रःDhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana)
धार्तराष्ट्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधार्तराष्ट्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विशाम्पतेO lord of the people
विशाम्पते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविशाम्पति
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
आज्ञापयामासcommanded / ordered
आज्ञापयामास:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआज्ञा + √प (पालने/प्रेरणे) (causative: आज्ञापय-)
FormPerfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
नृपःthe king
नृपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्the commencement of the king of sacrifices (i.e., the great sacrifice)
क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्रतुराजप्रवर्तन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
D
Duryodhana (Dhārtarāṣṭra)
K
Kraturāja (king of sacrifices)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical significance of intention in public religious acts: a grand sacrifice can be a dharmic offering or a political display, depending on the ruler’s motive and the consequences for others.

After hearing prior information or counsel, Duryodhana (identified as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son) commands that the great royal sacrifice—the ‘king of sacrifices’—be initiated.