Shloka 9

Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)

Devanagari script

चरन्तु देशान्‌ संवीता: स्फीताञज्जनपदाकुलान्‌ । तत्र गोष्ठीषु रम्यासु सिद्धप्रत्रजितेषु च

Transliteration

carantu deśān saṃvītāḥ sphītāñ janapadākulān | tatra goṣṭhīṣu ramyāsu siddhapratrājiteṣu ca ||

Translation

അവർ വേഷംമാറ്റി സമൃദ്ധ ജനപദങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ ദേശങ്ങളിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കട്ടെ; അവിടെ മനോഹരമായ സഭകളിലും, സിദ്ധ സന്ന്യാസി-പരിവ്രാജകർ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ആശ്രമസ്ഥലങ്ങളിലും ചെന്നു സൂക്ഷ്മമായി അന്വേഷിക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

• चरन्तु: let them roam/go
• चरन्तु: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Lot, Imperative/benedictive sense (injunctive command), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• देशान्: regions/countries
• देशान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संवीताः: covered/veiled; well-clad
• संवीताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle), वे/वी (to cover/encircle) with उपसर्ग सं-

• स्फीतान्: prosperous/abundant
• स्फीतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जनपदाकुलान्: crowded with people/settlements
• जनपदाकुलान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनपदाकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• गोष्ठीषु: in assemblies/meetings
• गोष्ठीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठी
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• रम्यासु: pleasant/charming
• रम्यासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• सिद्धप्रत्रजितेषु: in places frequented/inhabited by siddhas (reading uncertain)
• सिद्धप्रत्रजितेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध-प्रत्रजित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural, kta (past passive participle), त्रज्/त्रञ्ज् (uncertain; text likely corrupt) with उपसर्ग प्र-

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• deśa (regions)
• janapada (settled realms)
• goṣṭhī (assemblies)
• siddha (accomplished ascetics/renunciants)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Act with restraint and discernment: when seeking critical information, proceed discreetly, avoid provoking harm, and inquire respectfully in credible social and spiritual settings.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker describes a plan of covert movement through prosperous, populated regions, with agents (or seekers) visiting assemblies and ascetic circles to ask questions and locate what they seek without revealing their identity.