Shloka 483

अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira

Devanagari script

मानवान्‌ पालयिष्यन्ति भूत्वा धर्मपरायणा: । 'कुन्तीके महारथी पुत्र स्वयं धर्मपरायण रहकर अधर्मी मनुष्योंका भी पालन करेंगे

Transliteration

mānavān pālayiṣyanti bhūtvā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ |

Translation

ധർമ്മപരായണരായി അവർ മനുഷ്യരെ സംരക്ഷിക്കും. കുന്തിയുടെ മഹാരഥി പുത്രന്മാർ സ്വയം ധർമ്മനിഷ്ഠരായി, അധർമ്മികളായ മനുഷ്യരെയും പോലും പാലിച്ചു കാക്കും.

Word by Word

• मानवान्: humans, people
• मानवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पालयिष्यन्ति: they will protect/maintain
• पालयिष्यन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Absolutive (Ktva), Parasmaipada (usage)

• धर्मपरायणा: devoted to dharma
• धर्मपरायणा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• mānavāḥ (people/humankind)
• dharma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that true authority is grounded in dharma: rulers or leaders who are devoted to righteousness must protect and sustain the people, making public welfare a moral duty rather than a mere political choice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, states a general assurance about future conduct: those who become dharma-centered will act as protectors of humanity, emphasizing the expected role of righteous leadership in maintaining order.