Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तास्तु गन्धर्व राज्ञ: सेनाग्रयायिन: । सम्प्राद्रवन्‌ यतो राजा धृतराष्ट्रसुतो&$भवत्‌,गन्धर्वोके ऐसा कहनेपर राजाके सेनानायक योद्धा वहीं भाग गये, जहाँ धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र राजा दुर्योधन स्वयं विराजमान था

Transliteration

evam uktās tu gandharva-rājñaḥ senāgrayāyinaḥ | samprādravan yato rājā dhṛtarāṣṭra-suto 'bhavat ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Так, услышав слова царя гандхарвов, лучшие военачальники войска тотчас бросились туда, где находился царь — сын Дхритараштры (Дурьодхана). Сцена показывает, как страх и внезапная беда способны растопить воинскую гордыню, заставляя даже командиров искать защиты и указаний у своего владыки.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्ताःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut/indeed

गन्धर्व-राज्ञःof the Gandharva-king

सेना-अग्र-यायिनःthe vanguard-leaders / those going at the head of the army

सम्प्राद्रवन्ran off / fled

यतःto where / whither

राजाthe king

धृतराष्ट्र-सुतःDhṛtarāṣṭra's son (Duryodhana)

अभवत्was / stood / remained

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gandharva king

Duryodhana (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son)

army commanders/leading warriors (senāgrayāyinaḥ)

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 highlights how quickly external power and pride can collapse under real danger, and how leadership becomes the focal point in crisis. Ethically, it invites reflection on steadiness (dhairya) and responsible command rather than bravado.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being spoken to (and effectively checked) by the Gandharva king, the leading warriors of Duryodhana’s army rush to where Duryodhana himself is present, indicating alarm and a regrouping around their king.