Shloka 48
धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)
Devanagari script
।। नान्यदत्र परं मन्ये वनवासादूृते प्रभो
Transliteration
nānyad atra paraṁ manye vanavāsād ṛte prabho
Translation
ஹே பிரபுவே! இவ்விஷயத்தில் வனவாசத்தைத் தவிர வேறு உயர்ந்த வழி எனக்குத் தோன்றவில்லை; இதுவே இங்கு பரமப் பாதை.
Word by Word
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
anyatanything else
anyat:
Karta
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootanya
Formneuter, nominative, singular
atrahere; in this matter
atra:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatra
paramhigher; better; supreme
param:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootpara
Formneuter, nominative, singular
manyeI think; I consider
manye:
TypeVerb
Rootman (मनँ)
Formlat, present, first, singular, ātmanepada
vana-vāsātthan forest-dwelling; from exile in the forest
vana-vāsāt:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootvana-vāsa
Formmasculine, ablative, singular
ṛteexcept; without
ṛte:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootṛte
prabhoO lord
prabho:
TypeNoun
Rootprabhu
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
Speaker
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Characters & Entities
P
prabhu (addressed lord/master)V
vanavāsa (exile/forest-dwelling)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
When faced with a morally fraught situation, choosing a path of restraint and self-sacrifice (here, forest exile) can be the highest option if it protects dharma and prevents greater harm.
A speaker addresses a superior as 'prabho' and advises that, given the circumstances, there is no better resolution than accepting vanavāsa (exile to the forest), implying a preference for ethical preservation over escalation.