Shloka 30

Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra

Devanagari script

गच्छध्वं त्वरिता: सर्वे यत्र राजा स कौरव: । न चेदद्यैव गच्छथध्वं धर्मराजनिवेशनम्‌,“या तो तुम सब लोग तुरन्त वहीं लौट जाओ, जहाँ तुम्हारा राजा दुर्योधन रहता है। या यदि ऐसा नहीं करना है, तो अभी धर्मराजके नगर (यमलोक) की राह लो”

Transliteration

gacchadhvaṁ tvaritāḥ sarve yatra rājā sa kauravaḥ | na ced adyaiva gacchathadhvaṁ dharmarājaniveśanam ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Todos vós, apressai-vos e ide de imediato ao lugar onde está esse rei Kaurava. Caso contrário — se não o quiserdes — parti ainda hoje para a morada de Dharmarāja (o Senhor da Morte)”, insinuando que a recusa ou a demora trará destruição imediata e consequência moral.

Word by Word

गच्छध्वम्go (you all)!

त्वरिताःhastened, quickly (being in haste)

सर्वेall

यत्रwhere

राजाthe king

सःthat/he

कौरवःthe Kaurava (Duryodhana)

नnot

चेत्if

अद्यtoday

एवindeed, just

गच्छथgo (you all)!

ध्वम्(2nd pl. imperative ending, part of verb-form)

धर्मराजof Dharmaraja (Yama / or Yudhiṣṭhira, contextually Yama)

निवेशनम्abode, dwelling (house/realm)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kaurava king (Duryodhana)

Dharmarāja (Yama)

Dharmarāja-niveśana (abode of Yama / realm of death)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores accountability: obedience to rightful command and timely action avert ruin, while obstinacy or refusal invites immediate, fatal consequences—symbolized by being sent to Dharmarāja’s abode.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) issues an urgent order to a group: return immediately to the Kaurava king (Duryodhana). The alternative is framed as certain death—‘go to Dharmarāja’s dwelling’—a stark warning meant to compel compliance.