Shloka 19

Devanagari script

शिष्यै: परिवृतो विद्वान नीतिशास्त्रार्थकोविद: । पाण्डवानां हितार्थाय कौरवान्‌ प्रति जग्मिवान्‌,वे विद्वान तथा नीतिशास्त्र और अर्थशास्त्रके विशेषज्ञ थे। वे पाण्डवोंके हितके लिये शिष्योंके साथ कौरवोंकी (राजधानीकी) ओर गये थे

Transliteration

śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto vidvān nītiśāstrārthakovidaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ hitārthāya kauravān prati jagmivān ||

Translation

ಶಿಷ್ಯರಿಂದ ಸುತ್ತುವರಿದ ಆ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸನು—ನೀತಿಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಅರ್ಥಶಾಸ್ತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಂಡಿತ್ಯ ಹೊಂದಿದವನು—ಪಾಂಡವರ ಹಿತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕೌರವರ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೊರಟನು.

Word by Word

शिष्यैःby/with (his) disciples

परिवृतःsurrounded, accompanied

विद्वान्the learned man

नीतिशास्त्रार्थकोविदःskilled in the meaning of political science (nīti-śāstra)

पाण्डवानाम्of the Pāṇḍavas

हितार्थायfor the benefit/purpose

कौरवान्the Kauravas

प्रतिtowards

जग्मिवान्went

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

Kauravas

disciples (śiṣya)

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 the dharmic use of learning: expertise in nīti (ethical policy) and artha (practical governance) should serve the welfare (hita) of others. It implies that wise counsel and diplomacy are legitimate, even necessary, tools to protect rightful interests and reduce destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

A learned figure, accompanied by his disciples, departs toward the Kauravas’ side with the explicit aim of securing the Pāṇḍavas’ welfare. The scene signals a diplomatic or advisory mission during the Udyoga phase, when efforts are made to negotiate, counsel, and prepare amid rising tensions.