Shloka 2

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

Devanagari script

पुरोहितो5यमस्माकमन्निहोत्राणि रक्षतु । सूदपौरोगवीै: सार्द्ध द्रपदस्य निवेशने,अब मेरी सलाह यह है कि ये पुरोहित धौम्यजी रसोइयों तथा पाकशालाध्यक्षके साथ राजा ट्रुपदके घर जाकर रहें और वहाँ हमारे अग्निहोत्रकी अग्नियोंकी रक्षा करें तथा ये इन्द्रसेन आदि सेवकगण केवल रथोंको लेकर शीघ्र यहाँसे द्वारकाको चले जायेँ

Transliteration

purohito ’yam asmākam agnihotrāṇi rakṣatu | sūda-paurogavaiḥ sārdhaṃ drupadasya niveśane ||

Translation

ユディシュティラは言った。「我らの家付き祭司は、聖なるアグニホートラの火を守護せよ。料理人たちと台所の監督者と共にドルパダ王の館に留まり、そこで我らの祭火が途切れぬよう護り続けよ。」

Word by Word

purohitaḥthe priest

ayamthis

asmākamof us / our

agnihotrāṇiagnihotra rites / sacred fires (agnihotras)

rakṣatulet (him) protect

sūdawith cooks

pauro-gavaiḥwith the supervisors of the royal kitchen/cowsheds (pauro-gavas)

sārdhamtogether with

drupadasyaof Drupada

niveśanein the residence/house

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Dhaumya (purohita, implied by context)

Agnihotra (sacred fires/rite)

Drupada

Drupada’s residence

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?

Even amid uncertainty and political danger, dharma is upheld by preserving essential sacred duties—here, the continuity and protection of the agnihotra fires—showing that ritual responsibility and moral order are not to be neglected.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira gives practical instructions: the family priest should stay at Drupada’s house with kitchen staff and protect the Pandavas’ agnihotra fires there, ensuring their rites continue safely while they manage their broader plans.