Shloka 2

Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation

Devanagari script

सर्व कौशल्यमुक्त्वा55दौ पृष्टवा चैवमनामयम्‌ । सर्वसेनाप्रणेतृणां मध्ये वाक्यमुवाच ह

Transliteration

sarva-kauśalyam uktvā pr̥ṣṭvā caivam anāmayam | sarva-senā-praṇetr̥ṇāṁ madhye vākyam uvāca ha ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Сначала он передал все слова благополучия, затем почтительно осведомился об их здоровье и отсутствии недугов, и после этого произнёс речь посреди всех военачальников. Сцена подчёркивает придворный обычай: даже самые тяжкие государственные дела начинают с уважительного вопроса о благополучии, прежде чем перейти к тому, что касается общей ответственности и надвигающегося столкновения.

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all (entire)
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कौशल्यम्: welfare, well-being
• कौशल्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उक्त्वा: having said/told
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, Perfective (prior action)

• दौ: then (particle; reading uncertain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दौ

• पृष्ट्वा: having asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, Perfective (prior action)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अमनामयम्: free from illness; health
• अमनामयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमनामय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वसेनाप्रणेतृणाम्: of all the army-leaders/commanders
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसेनाप्रणेता
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उवाच: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• senā-praṇetr̥s (army commanders)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when the subject is politically charged and war-oriented, dhārmic conduct begins with respect, welfare-inquiry, and measured speech. The verse models a norm of ethical communication: establish goodwill and acknowledge others’ well-being before delivering consequential counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

After exchanging formal courtesies—reporting general welfare and asking about the elders’ health—the speaker (contextually an envoy/counsellor figure) addresses the assembled military leadership, indicating a transition from polite preliminaries to a serious public statement before the commanders.