Shloka 38

Devanagari script

अपत्यार्थ महाराज प्रसाद कृतवांश्व सः । त्रीन्‌ स पुत्रानजनयत्‌ तदा भरतसत्तम,महाराज! इस प्रकार माता तथा अन्य लोगोंको अनुनय-विनयके द्वारा अनुकूल करके माताके सहित मैंने महामुनि व्यासको प्रसन्न करके भाईकी स्ट्रियोंसे पुत्र उत्पन्न करनेके लिये उनसे प्रार्थना की। भरतकुल-भूषण! महर्षिने कृपा की और उन स्त्रियोंसे तीन पुत्र उत्पन्न किये

Transliteration

apatyārtha mahārāja prasādaṁ kṛtavān saḥ | trīn sa putrān ajanayat tadā bharatasattama ||

Translation

பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—மகாராஜா! சந்ததிக்காக அவர் அருள் செய்தார். அப்போது, பரதர்களில் சிறந்தவரே! அவர் மூன்று புதல்வர்களை உண்டாக்கினார்.

Word by Word

अपत्यार्थम्for the sake of offspring

महाराजO great king

प्रसादम्favor, graciousness

कृतवान्having done; did

चand

सःhe

त्रीन्three

सःhe

पुत्रान्sons

अजनयत्begot; caused to be born

तदाthen

भरतसत्तमO best of the Bharatas

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Vyasa

the King addressed (Dhritarashtra in context)

the brother’s wives (widows of Vichitravirya: Ambika and Ambalika; and the maid in the broader episode)

Bharata lineage (Bharatas/Kurus)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rajadharma and kula-dharma: preserving the continuity of the royal line is treated as a grave responsibility. Even uncomfortable measures, when undertaken with proper intent and sanction, are framed as duty aimed at social and political stability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recounts arranging for Vyasa to be pleased and requested to beget heirs through his brother’s wives. As a result, three sons are born—understood in the larger episode as Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura—ensuring the continuation of the Kuru dynasty.