Shloka 14

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest

Devanagari script

क्रमेण युगपत्‌ सर्व व्यवसायं महाबल: । पीडनं स्तम्भनं चैव कोशभड्स्तथैव च

Transliteration

krameṇa yugapat sarva-vyavasāyaṃ mahābalaḥ | pīḍanaṃ stambhanaṃ caiva kośabhraṃśas tathaiva ca || rājendra |

Translation

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच—राजेन्द्र! महाबलः शत्रोः प्रतिकूलं क्रमेण युगपत् वा सर्वं व्यवसायं प्रवर्तयेत्। तं पीडयेत्, तस्य गतिं स्तम्भयेत्, तथा च तस्य कोशस्य भङ्गं कुर्यात्।

Word by Word

• {'krameṇa': 'in sequence, gradually', 'yugapat': 'simultaneously, all at once', 'sarva-vyavasāyam': 'the whole enterprise/strategy

• total effort and measures', 'mahābalaḥ': 'one of great strength

• a powerful (king)', 'pīḍanam': 'pressing, harassing, inflicting pressure/pain', 'stambhanam': 'stopping, immobilizing, obstructing movement', 'kośa': 'treasury, royal finances', 'bhraṃśaḥ': 'fall, ruin, destruction', 'rājendra': 'O king of kings

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• rājā (king)
• śatru (enemy)
• kośa (treasury)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a rāja-dharma principle of statecraft: when confronting an enemy, a king should apply comprehensive measures—gradually or simultaneously—by pressuring the opponent, restricting his mobility, and undermining his financial base, since resources and freedom of action sustain hostile power.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Āśramavāsika Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking and articulating practical counsel on kingship and dealing with adversaries, emphasizing coordinated political and strategic action rather than isolated or hesitant measures.