Shloka 10

Devanagari script

राज्ञो भार्यश्नि पुत्राश्न॒ बान्धवा: सुहृदस्तथा । समेत्य सर्वे शोचन्ति यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति

Transliteration

rājño bhāryāś ca putrāś ca bāndhavāḥ suhṛdas tathā | sametya sarve śocanti yadā rājā pramādyati ||

Translation

Утатхья сказал: «Когда царь становится нерадив и впадает в беспечность, тогда его царица, его сыновья, а также родичи и доброжелатели — все собираются вместе и скорбят».

Word by Word

राज्ञःof the king

भार्याःwives

चand

पुत्राःsons

चand

बान्धवाःkinsmen/relatives

सुहृदःfriends/well-wishers

तथाlikewise/also

समेत्यhaving assembled/coming together

सर्वेall

शोचन्तिgrieve/mourn

यदाwhen

राजाthe king

प्रमाद्यतिis negligent/errs through carelessness

Speaker

उतथ्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Utathya

king

queen/wives

sons

kinsmen

well-wishers

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?

A ruler’s pramāda (heedlessness/negligence) does not remain a private fault: it destabilizes the whole household and social circle. Rajadharma therefore requires vigilance, self-control, and attentive governance, because the king’s conduct directly shapes the welfare and emotional security of dependents and allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Utathya is instructing about the dangers of a king’s carelessness. He notes that when the king lapses into negligence, those closest to him—queen, sons, relatives, and well-wishers—assemble and grieve, implying looming disorder, insecurity, and the unraveling of support around the throne.