Shloka 17

धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement

Devanagari script

तस्य द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पर्याप्तानि बृहन्ति च । सर्वतः सुविभक्तानि यन्त्रैरारक्षितानि च,“नगरके सभी दरवाजे विस्तृत एवं विशाल हों। सब ओर उनकी रक्षाके लिये यन्त्र लगे हों तथा उन द्वारोंका विभाग सुन्दर ढंगसे सम्पन्न हो

Transliteration

tasya dvārāṇi sarvāṇi paryāptāni bṛhanti ca | sarvataḥ suvibhaktāni yantrair ārakṣitāni ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Biarlah semua pintu gerbang kota itu luas dan tinggi; biarlah ia tersusun rapi di setiap penjuru, serta dipertahankan dengan alat-alat pertahanan.”

Word by Word

तस्यof that (city/it)

द्वाराणिgates/doors

सर्वाणिall

पर्याप्तानिadequate/sufficient (spacious enough)

बृहन्तिlarge/lofty

चand

सर्वतःon all sides/everywhere

सुविभक्तानिwell-arranged/well-partitioned

यन्त्रैःby mechanisms/contrivances

आरक्षितानिguarded/protected

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

dvāra (city gates)

yantra (defensive devices)

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 rāja-dharma: a ruler must provide adequate infrastructure and layered protection. Well-planned, well-guarded gates symbolize responsible governance—security, order, and foresight for the welfare of the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates instructions describing how the city (or fortified settlement) should be arranged: its gates must be large and sufficient, properly positioned on all sides, and secured with protective devices, indicating preparations for safety and stability.