Shloka 14

धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति व्यवहार-रक्षा-नियमनोपदेशः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Administration, Punishment, and Daily Governance

Devanagari script

राजानमुपशि क्षस्व ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरमीश्वरम्‌

Transliteration

rājānam upaśikṣasva jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaram īśvaram

Translation

ໄວສັມປາຍະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ຈົ່ງສອນ ແລະນໍາທາງແກ່ກະສັດ—ພີ່ໃຫຍ່ຂອງເຈົ້າ—ຜູ້ຢືນຢູ່ໃນຖານະເຈົ້ານາຍ (ອໍານາດອັນຊອບທໍາ)»

Word by Word

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपशिक्षस्व: instruct (him), teach
• उपशिक्षस्व: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-शिक्ष्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• ज्येष्ठम्: elder
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ईश्वरम्: lord, ruler
• ईश्वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• the king
• eldest brother

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes dharma in the form of respectful guidance: one should counsel the rightful authority—especially an elder brother who is king—so that leadership remains aligned with duty, restraint, and proper governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports an instruction being given: the listener is urged to advise the king, identified as the eldest brother and ruler, indicating a moment where counsel and moral direction are needed within the royal family’s decisions.