Shloka 30

Devanagari script

मा तात साहसं कार्षीमम पूर्वपरिग्रह: । प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेय तत: पिब हरस्व च

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |

mā tāta sāhasaṃ kārṣīr mama pūrva-parigrahaḥ |

praśnān uktvā tu kaunteya tataḥ piba haraś ca ||

dharmaputro mahābāhur vilalāpa suvistaram ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—“ବତ୍ସ, ସାହସ କରିବୁ ନାହିଁ। ଏହି ଜଳ ଉପରେ ମୋର ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଅଧିକାର ଅଛି। ହେ କୁନ୍ତୀପୁତ୍ର, ପ୍ରଥମେ ମୋ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନମାନଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ତର ଦେ; ତା’ପରେ ଜଳ ପି—ଏବଂ ନେଇ ଯାଅ ମଧ୍ୟ।” ଅର୍ଜୁନ ମୃତ ହୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ; ତାଙ୍କର ଧନୁ-ବାଣ ଛିଟିଯାଇଥିଲା। ଭୀମସେନ, ନକୁଳ ଓ ସହଦେବ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରାଣହୀନ, ନିଶ୍ଚେଷ୍ଟ ଥିଲେ। ଏହା ଦେଖି ମହାବାହୁ ଧର୍ମପୁତ୍ର ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ତପ୍ତ ଭାରୀ ନିଶ୍ୱାସ ଛାଡ଼ିଲେ; ଶୋକାଶ୍ରୁ ଆଖିରୁ ଉଠି ତାଙ୍କୁ ଭିଜାଇଦେଲା। ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏଭଳି ପତିତ ଦେଖି ସେ ଗଭୀର ଚିନ୍ତାରେ ଡୁବି ଦୀର୍ଘ ସମୟ ବିଳାପ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle (with imperative/optative)

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

• साहसम्: rash act / audacity
• साहसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहस
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कार्षीः: you did / you should do (here: do not do)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: First-person pronoun, Nominative, Singular

• पूर्व: prior / earlier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: Neuter (as compound member), Indeclinable/adjectival stem

• परिग्रहः: seizure / taking possession / claim
• परिग्रहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रश्नान्: questions
• प्रश्नान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उक्त्वा: having answered/said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), indeclinable

• तु: but / then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Particle

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kuntī
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ततः: then / thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Ablatival adverb

• पिब: drink
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• हर: take away / carry off
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• स्व: for yourself / your own
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: स्व
• Form: Reflexive/possessive stem; here as part of idiom with verb

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Conjunction

• धर्मपुत्रः: Dharma’s son (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विललाप: lamented
• Type: Verb
• Root: लप्
• Form: Perfect (liṭ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• सुविस्तरम्: at great length / extensively
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुविस्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (adverbial use)

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra, Kaunteya)
• Arjuna
• Bhīmasena
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• bow (dhanus)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• water (udaka) / lake context (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses ethical restraint: do not act on impulse even in urgent need. One must respect rightful claim and submit to a moral test (answering questions) before taking what is desired—an early framing of dharma as self-control, accountability, and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Yakṣa-prashna setting, Yudhiṣṭhira reaches the water after his brothers have drunk and fallen lifeless. A hidden guardian voice forbids him to drink, asserting prior claim and demanding answers to questions first. Yudhiṣṭhira, grieving, is nevertheless directed toward a dharmic dialogue rather than rash action.