Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

गतेषु तेषु वीरेषु धौम्यो5थ जपतां वर: । अग्निहोत्राण्युपादाय पाउ्चालानभ्यगच्छत,उन पाण्डव वीरोंके चले जानेपर जपयज्ञ करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ धौम्यजी उस अनग्निहोत्रसम्बन्धी अग्निको साथ लेकर पांचालदेशमें चले गये

Transliteration

gateṣu teṣu vīreṣu dhaumyo ’tha japatāṃ varaḥ | agnihotrāṇy upādāya pāñcālān abhyagacchat ||

Translation

その勇士たちが去ったのち、ジャパ（持誦）と祭式の誦唱において最勝のダウミヤは、アグニホートラの聖火を携え、パンチャーラの国へと向かった。この詩句は、流浪と政難のただ中にあってもヴェーダの儀礼が慎重に守られることを示す。ダルマは危機に捨てられるのではなく、規律ある継続によって運び継がれてゆくのである。

Word by Word

गतेषुwhen (they) had gone

तेषुin/among those

वीरेषुheroes

धौम्यःDhaumya

अथthen

जपताम्of those who recite (perform japa)

वरःthe best

अग्निहोत्राणिagnihotra (sacred fires/rites)

उपादायhaving taken up/carrying

पाञ्चालान्the Panchalas (Panchala country/people)

अभ्यगच्छत्went to/approached

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhaumya

Pāñcāla

Agnihotra (sacred fire/rite)

the departed heroes (implied: the Pāṇḍavas)

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 when circumstances force separation and concealment, dharma is preserved through steadfast practice: the sacred fires and daily rites are treated as living responsibilities that must be protected and continued.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the heroes have left, Dhaumya, their priest, gathers the Agnihotra fires/implements and travels to the Pāñcāla region, indicating a relocation of the ritual household and continued religious observance alongside the unfolding exile.