Shloka 4

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 193 — Hastināpura Mantra: Duryodhana’s Proposals to Divide the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तु वाक्यानि पुरोहितस्य यान्युक्तवान्‌ भारत धर्मराज: । जिज्ञासयैवाथ कुरूत्तमानां द्रव्याण्यनेकान्युपसंजहार

Transliteration

śrutvā tu vākyāni purohitasya yāny uktavān bhārata dharmarājaḥ | jijñāsayaivātha kurūttamānāṁ dravyāṇy anekāny upasañjahāra ||

Translation

புரோகிதரின் வாயிலாக தர்மராஜ யுதிஷ்டிரன் கூறிய சொற்களை கேட்டுத், குருகுலத்தின் சிறந்த வீரர்களின் ஒழுக்கமும் இயல்பும் எவ்வாறு என அறிய விரும்பி, அரசன் துருபதன் பலவகை மதிப்புமிக்க பொருட்களைச் சேகரிக்கச் செய்தான்.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• वाक्यानि: words/speeches
• वाक्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पुरोहितस्य: of the priest
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यानि: which
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• उक्तवान्: said/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु (past active participle used finitely), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• धर्मराजः: Dharma-king (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जिज्ञासया: with a desire to know / for testing
• जिज्ञासया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिज्ञासा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• कुरूत्तमानाम्: of the best of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरूत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• द्रव्याणि: articles/objects/wealth-items
• द्रव्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अनेकानि: many/various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• उपसंजहार: collected/assembled
• उपसंजहार: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-सम्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• purohita (royal priest)
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Bhārata (addressee)
• Kuru-uttamāḥ (the foremost Kurus/Pāṇḍavas implied)
• King Drupada
• dravyāṇi (valuables/objects)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic principle of discernment: before granting honor, alliance, or trust, a king should ascertain the true character (śīla) of those involved, using careful inquiry rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Yudhiṣṭhira’s words through the priest, Drupada prepares to examine the Kurus’ qualities by arranging many valuables—suggesting a practical test or setting meant to reveal their conduct and temperament.