Shloka 18

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief, Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation, and Vyāsa’s Admonition (युधिष्ठिरशोक-निवारणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

(यथा वै कामजां मायां परित्यक्तुं त्वमहसि । तथा तु कुर्वन्‌ नृपतिननिबन्धेन युज्यते ।।

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

yathā vai kāmajāṃ māyāṃ parityaktuṃ tvam arhasi |

tathā tu kurvan nṛpatir anibandhena yujyate ||

asakṛc cāpi saṃdehāś chinnās te kāmajā mayā |

aśraddadhāno durmedhā luptasmṛtir asi dhruvam ||

Translation

ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ— “କାମଜନିତ ମାୟାକୁ ଯେପରି ତୁମେ ପରିତ୍ୟାଗ କରିବା ଉଚିତ, ସେପରି ତାହାକୁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରୁଥିବା ନରେଶ କେବେ ବନ୍ଧନରେ ପଡ଼େ ନାହିଁ। ମୁଁ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ତୁମ କାମଜନିତ ସନ୍ଦେହଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଛେଦିଛି; ତଥାପି ତୁମେ ଅଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁ ଓ ଦୁର୍ମେଧା ହୋଇ ତାହା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରୁନାହ। ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଏହି କାରଣରୁ ତୁମ ସ୍ମୃତି ଓ ବିବେକ ଆବୃତ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି।”

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• कामजाम्: born of desire
• कामजाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मायाम्: illusion, delusion
• मायाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• परित्यक्तुम्: to abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अर्हसि: ought, are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तथा: so, in that way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कुर्वन्: doing, acting (thus)
• कुर्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृपतिः: king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• निबन्धेन: by bondage, by binding
• निबन्धेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निबन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• युज्यते: is yoked/connected; is bound
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada (passive sense)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• nṛpati (the king/ruler, generic addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Desire generates delusion and doubt; a ruler who renounces this desire-born illusion and acts with detachment avoids bondage. Ethical governance depends on inner self-mastery rather than mere external power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira admonishes his interlocutor, urging the abandonment of desire-born delusion. He says he has repeatedly resolved the other’s doubts, but the listener’s lack of faith and confused intellect prevents acceptance, leading to impaired remembrance and judgment.