Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

सेनाप्रणेता च भवेत्‌ तव तात दृढव्रतः

Transliteration

senāpraṇetā ca bhavet tava tāta dṛḍhavrataḥ

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଏବଂ, ପ୍ରିୟ, ସେ ତୁମର ସେନାପ୍ରଣେତା ଓ ସେନାନାୟକ ହେଉ—ବ୍ରତରେ ଦୃଢ଼, ଶାସନ-ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳାରେ ଅଟଳ।

Word by Word

• सेनाप्रणेता: leader of the army
• सेनाप्रणेता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना-प्रणेता
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• भवेत्: should be / may become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तव: of you / your
• तव: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• तात: O dear one / O father (term of address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दृढव्रतः: firm in vow / steadfast
• दृढव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that military authority should be entrusted to a person who is dṛḍhavrata—steadfast, disciplined, and reliable—suggesting that power is ethically safest when guided by self-control and firm commitment to duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events, reports a recommendation that someone should serve as the senāpraṇetā (army commander/leader) for the addressed person, highlighting the need for a dependable, vow-steadfast leader in matters of governance and security.