Mahabharata — Ashramavasika Parva, Shloka 2

धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala

Devanagari script

उक्तो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भवद्वचनमादित: । सच संभश्रुत्य वाक्यं ते प्रशशंस महाद्युति:

Transliteration

ukto yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhavadvacanam āditaḥ | sa ca saṃbhāṣya śrutvā vākyam te praśaśaṃsa mahādyutiḥ |

Translation

ଆପଣଙ୍କ ବଚନ ଆରମ୍ଭରୁ କହିଦିଆଯାଉଥିବାବେଳେ ରାଜା ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଶୁଣିଲେ; ଏବଂ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ସନ୍ଦେଶ ଶୁଣି ସେ ମହାଦ୍ୟୁତି ଆପଣଙ୍କ ବଚନକୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କଲେ।

Word by Word

• उक्तः: having been told / was told
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवत्-वचनम्: your message/words
• भवत्-वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदितः: from the beginning
• आदितः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• सम्भश्रुत्य: having heard attentively
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + श्रु (ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय, कर्तरि

• वाक्यम्: speech/statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रशशंस: praised
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद; परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन

• महाद्युतिः: the great-splendored (one)
• महाद्युतिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic communication: hearing a message fully (āditaḥ), responding appropriately (saṃbhāṣya), and honoring the speaker or messenger through praise (praśaśaṃsa). Ethical leadership is shown through restraint, attentiveness, and respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Yudhiṣṭhira received the conveyed message from the start, listened carefully, replied, and then commended the words—indicating acceptance and goodwill toward the one who sent or delivered the message.