Shloka 2

Āśramamaṇḍala-darśana and Ṛṣi-samāgama

Observation of the Hermitage Precinct and the Assembly of Sages

Devanagari script

स राजा राजघधर्मश्नि ब्रह्मोपनिषदं तथा । अवाप्तवान्नरश्रेष्ठो बुद्धिनिश्चयमेव च

Transliteration

sa rājā rājadharmajñaḥ brahmopaniṣadaṃ tathā | avāptavān naraśreṣṭho buddhiniścayam eva ca ||

Translation

ആ നരശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ രാജാവ് ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രൻ രാജധർമ്മജ്ഞാനവും, ബ്രഹ്മവിഷയക ഉപനിഷദ്‌വിദ്യയും, ബുദ്ധിയുടെ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയവും—ഇവയെല്ലാം പ്രാപിച്ചിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• {'saḥ': 'he', 'rājā': 'king', 'rājadharmajñaḥ': 'knower of the duties/law of kingship (rājadharma)', 'brahmopaniṣadam': 'the Upaniṣadic teaching concerning Brahman

• knowledge of Brahman (brahmavidyā)', 'tathā': 'and likewise

• also', 'avāptavān': 'attained

• realized', 'naraśreṣṭhaḥ': 'best of men

• foremost among men', 'buddhi': 'intellect

• understanding', 'niścaya': 'certainty

• determination', 'eva': 'indeed

• emphatically', 'ca': 'and'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vidura
• Vyāsa
• Brahman (as the Upaniṣadic absolute)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights two complementary attainments: competence in rājadharma (ethical governance and responsibility) and insight into brahmavidyā (Upaniṣadic knowledge of ultimate reality). It also stresses that firm discernment (buddhi-niścaya) is essential, and that spiritual success may come either through one’s own austerity or through reliance on an accomplished teacher.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Dhṛtarāṣṭra as having gained both royal-ethical understanding and higher spiritual knowledge, with settled clarity of mind. The surrounding explanation contrasts Vidura’s self-won ascetic accomplishment with Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s attainment through taking shelter of the sage Vyāsa.