Shloka 28

Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)

Devanagari script

ये चान्ये क्रतवस्तात ब्राह्मणैरभिपूजिता: । तैर्यजस्व महीपाल शक्रो देवपतिर्यथा,भूपाल! इनके सिवा जो दूसरे भी ब्राह्मणोंद्वारा प्रशंसित यज्ञ हैं, उनके द्वारा देवराज इन्द्रके समान आप भी यज्ञपुरुषकी आराधना कीजिये

Transliteration

ye cānye kratavas tāta brāhmaṇair abhipūjitāḥ | tair yajasva mahīpāla śakro devapatir yathā ||

Translation

Wahai yang dikasihi, wahai pelindung bumi! Laksanakanlah juga upacara-upacara korban yang lain, yang dihormati dan dipuji oleh para Brahmana. Dengan menyembah Tuhan Korban melalui upacara-upacara itu, semoga tuanku memerintah seperti Indra, raja para dewa—menegakkan tertib, kemurahan hati, dan dharma suci yang meneguhkan negeri.

Word by Word

येwho/which (those)

चand

अन्येother

क्रतवःsacrifices, rites

तातdear one / son (term of address)

ब्राह्मणैःby Brahmins

अभिपूजिताःhonoured, praised

तैःby/with those (rites)

यजस्वperform sacrifice / worship (you should sacrifice)

महीपालO protector of the earth (king)

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

देवपतिःlord of the gods

यथाas, like

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nakula

Brahmins (Brāhmaṇāḥ)

Indra (Śakra, Devapati)

King (Mahīpāla/Bhūpāla)

Sacrifices (Kratavaḥ/Yajñas)

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?

A king should uphold rajadharma by supporting and performing approved Vedic sacrifices as endorsed by Brahmins, aligning royal power with sacred duty and public welfare—like Indra sustaining cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula addresses a ruler respectfully, urging him to undertake the various Brahmin-approved sacrificial rites and to worship through them, holding up Indra as the model of a sovereign who maintains order through dharmic action.