Shloka 9

हंस–साध्यसंवादः, वाक्-निग्रहः, महाकुल-लक्षणम्, शान्ति-उपायः

Hamsa–Sādhya Dialogue; Restraint of Speech; Marks of Noble Lineage; Means to Peace

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट उवाच शतायुरुक्त: पुरुष: सर्ववेदेषु वै यदा । नाप्रोत्यथ च तत्‌ सर्वमायु: केनेह हेतुना

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | śatāyur uktaḥ puruṣaḥ sarvavedeṣu vai yadā | nāpnoty atha ca tat sarvam āyuḥ keneha hetunā ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ବିଦୁର! ସମସ୍ତ ବେଦରେ ପୁରୁଷର ଆୟୁ ଶତବର୍ଷ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଇଛି; ତେବେ ଏଠାରେ ସେ କେଉଁ କାରଣରୁ ସେହି ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଆୟୁ ପାଉନାହିଁ? ଏହାର ହେତୁ କ’ଣ?

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• शतायुः: having a hundred-year lifespan
• शतायुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उक्तः: is said/declared
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• पुरुषः: a man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्ववेदेषु: in all the Vedas
• सर्ववेदेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ववेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• यदा: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

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

• आप्नोति: attains/obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular

• अथ: then/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वम्: entire/whole
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• केन: by what (cause)
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• हेतुना: by reason/cause
• हेतुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Vidura
• Vedas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into the gap between scriptural ideal (a full hundred-year life) and lived reality, inviting reflection on causes such as conduct, self-discipline, and karmic conditions that shorten or sustain life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-setting, Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Vidura about human longevity: if the Vedas speak of a hundred-year lifespan, why do people fail to reach it, and what explains premature death.