Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अप्रमादस्त्वया कार्य: सर्वथा कुरुनन्दन | अष्टाड़े राजशार्दूल राज्ये धर्मपुरस्कृते

Transliteration

apramādastvayā kāryaḥ sarvathā kurunandana | aṣṭāṅge rājasārddūla rājye dharmapuraskṛte ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਕੁਰੂ-ਨੰਦਨ, ਤੈਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਦਾ ਚੌਕਸ ਰਹਿਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਰਾਜ-ਸ਼ਾਰਦੂਲ, ਧਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗੇ ਰੱਖੇ ਇਸ ਅੱਠ-ਅੰਗੀ ਰਾਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ ਨਾ ਕਰੀਂ।

Word by Word

• अप्रमादः: non-negligence, vigilance
• अप्रमादः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रमाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• कार्यः: to be done, should be done
• कार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वथा: in every way, always
• सर्वथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा
• Form: true

• कुरुनन्दन: O delight of the Kurus
• कुरुनन्दन: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अष्टाङ्गे: in the eight-limbed (state/kingdom)
• अष्टाङ्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टाङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• राजशार्दूल: O tiger among kings
• राजशार्दूल: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजशार्दूल
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राज्ये: in the kingdom/state
• राज्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• धर्मपुरस्कृते: with dharma placed foremost
• धर्मपुरस्कृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मपुरस्कृत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kurunandana
• Rājasārddūla
• Rājya (kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must practice constant apramāda (vigilant, non-negligent attention) and keep dharma as the foremost principle in administering and safeguarding the kingdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a Kuru ruler is being admonished with royal epithets to govern an ‘eight-part’ polity responsibly—prioritizing dharma and avoiding any lapse in protection and administration.