Shloka 32

गुर्वर्थ इति चाकाममुपयाजमचोदयत्‌ । याजो द्रोणविनाशाय प्रतिजज्ञे तथा च सः

gurvartha iti cākāmam upayājam acodayat | yājo droṇavināśāya pratijajñe tathā ca saḥ ||

गुर्वर्थ इति चाकाममुपयाजमचोदयत् । याजो द्रोणविनाशाय प्रतिजज्ञे तथा च सः ॥

गुरु-अर्थम्a weighty/important matter
गुरु-अर्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु + अर्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इतिthus (quoting)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अकामम्unwilling; without desire
अकामम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअकाम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उपयाजम्Upayāja (proper name)
उपयाजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउपयाज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अचोदयत्urged; prompted
अचोदयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootचुद्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada
याजःYāja (proper name)
याजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयाज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्रोण-विनाशायfor the destruction of Droṇa
द्रोण-विनाशाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण + विनाश
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
प्रतिजज्ञेpromised; vowed
प्रतिजज्ञे:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति + ज्ञा
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3, Singular, Ātmanepada
तथाso; in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

ब्राह्मण उवाच

U
Upayāja
Y
Yāja
D
Droṇa
D
Drupada
Y
yajña (sacrifice/rite)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that ritual acts (yajña) are not ethically neutral: when driven by vengeance and aimed at another’s destruction, they become instruments of conflict. It also contrasts desireless ascetic discipline (akāma) with the king’s and priest’s purposeful, outcome-driven vow.

Yāja, judging the task difficult, persuades the desireless Upayāja to participate. Yāja vows to produce (through sacrificial means) a son whose destiny is Droṇa’s downfall, and Upayāja then instructs King Drupada in the required sacrificial procedures to obtain the wished-for son.