Shloka 29

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Saṃvāda on Restraint and Rājānīti

Chapter 50

Devanagari script

पुनश्चन तादृशीमेव वापीं जलजशालिनीम्‌ । मत्वा शिलासमां तोये पतितो5स्मि नराधिप

Transliteration

punaś ca tādṛśīm eva vāpīṃ jalajaśālinīm | matvā śilāsamāṃ toye patito 'smi narādhipa ||

Translation

ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ କହିଲା—ପୁଣି ମୁଁ ସେହିପରି ଆଉ ଗୋଟିଏ ବାପି ଦେଖିଲି, ଯାହା କମଳରେ ଶୋଭିତ। ମୁଁ ତାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶିଳାସମ ମସୃଣ ଭୂମି ଭାବିଲି; କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ନିଜେ ଜଳରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଥିଲା, ତେଣୁ ଭ୍ରମରେ ମୁଁ ସେଥିରେ ପଡ଼ିଗଲି, ନରାଧିପ।

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

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

• तादृशीम्: such (of that kind)
• तादृशीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वापीम्: a well/pond (step-well)
• वापीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• जलज-शालिनीम्: adorned with lotuses
• जलज-शालिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलजशालिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मत्वा: having thought/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (मन्यते)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada (gerund, voice-neutral)

• शिला-समाम्: level like stone (stone-flat)
• शिला-समाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिलासमा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तोये: in water
• तोये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पतितः: fallen
• पतितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present (Lat), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नर-अधिप: O lord of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• नर-ईश्वर: O king, lord of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• narādhipa (addressed king)
• vāpī (well/pond)
• jalaja (lotus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how pride and hasty assumption (moha) lead to public disgrace; misperception becomes a moral lesson about humility and self-control in a royal court.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the wondrous hall, Duryodhana mistakes a lotus-filled water-reservoir for a solid, stone-leveled surface and falls in, recounting the incident to the king as an example of being deceived by appearances.