Shloka 3

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament on Kāla and Daiva after Draupadī’s Recovery (आरण्यक पर्व, अध्याय २५७)

Devanagari script

एतच्छुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धार्तराष्ट्रो विशाम्पते । आज्ञापयामास नृप: क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्‌,राजन! यह सुनकर नृपश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनने उस क्रतुराजको प्रारम्भ करनेकी आज्ञा दी

Transliteration

etac chrutvā nṛpaśreṣṭho dhārtarāṣṭro viśāmpate | ājñāpayāmāsa nṛpaḥ kraturājapravartanam ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Услышав это, лучший из царей — сын Дхритараштры (Дурьодхана), о владыка народа, — повелел начать «царя жертвоприношений» (кратураджу).

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (thing)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Prior action (having heard)

• नृपश्रेष्ठः: the best of kings
• नृपश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धार्तराष्ट्रः: Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana)
• धार्तराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• विशाम्पते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• आज्ञापयामास: commanded / ordered
• आज्ञापयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आज्ञा + √प (पालने/प्रेरणे) (causative: आज्ञापय-)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्: the commencement of the king of sacrifices (i.e., the great sacrifice)
• क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतुराजप्रवर्तन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duryodhana (Dhārtarāṣṭra)
• Kraturāja (king of sacrifices)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical significance of intention in public religious acts: a grand sacrifice can be a dharmic offering or a political display, depending on the ruler’s motive and the consequences for others.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing prior information or counsel, Duryodhana (identified as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son) commands that the great royal sacrifice—the ‘king of sacrifices’—be initiated.