Mahabharata 7.113.39 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 113, Shloka 39

Adhyāya 113: Karṇa–Bhīma Śaravarṣa and the Battlefield Aftermath (कर्णभीमशरवर्षः)

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा श्रेय: परं बुद्धया ततो राजन्‌ प्रशाधि माम्‌,“बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ महाराज! अपनी बुद्धिसे इस विषयमें बहुत सोच-विचार करके आपको जो परम मंगलकारक कृत्य जान पड़े, उसके लिये मुझे आज्ञा दें!

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā śreyaḥ paraṃ buddhyā tato rājan praśādhi mām |

Translation

Санджая сказал: «О царь, распознав своим разумом то, что приносит наивысшее благо, повели мне. После глубокого размышления — какой бы путь ты ни признал высшим добром, даруй мне повеление следовать ему».

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी (usage)

• श्रेयः: the better good, welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बुद्ध्या: with (your) intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रशाधि: command, instruct, direct
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, परस्मैपद, Active

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds śreyas (true welfare) as the criterion for action and urges decision-making grounded in buddhi (discernment). It models ethical counsel: after careful reflection on what is truly beneficial, one should give clear direction and act accordingly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), urging him to deliberate on the most auspicious course and then issue instructions. The line frames Sañjaya as a messenger/adviser ready to carry out the king’s decision, emphasizing responsible command amid the pressures of the war narrative.