Shloka 7

Adhyāya 195 — Arjuna’s Capability and Restraint Regarding Divyāstras

Udyoga Parva

Devanagari script

व्यादिदेश सवाहाानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्‌ । सगजाश्चवमनुष्याणां ये च शिल्पोपजीविन:

Transliteration

vyādideśa sa vāhānāṁ bhakṣya-bhojyam anuttamam | sa-gajāś ca vā manushyāṇāṁ ye ca śilpopajīvinaḥ ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—வாகனப் பணியாளர்களுக்கு மிகச் சிறந்த உணவும் விருந்தும் வழங்குமாறு அவர் ஆணையிட்டார். யானைகளுடன் இருப்போர், பிற மனிதர், கைவினைத் தொழிலால் வாழ்வோர் அனைவருக்கும் உணவு ஏற்பாடு செய்யச் சொன்னார்.

Word by Word

व्यादिदेशhe ordered / he directed

सवाहानाम्of the charioteers

भक्ष्यभोज्यम्food to be eaten and drunk (edibles and eatables)

अनुत्तमम्excellent, unsurpassed

सगजाःthose having elephants (with elephants)

चand

अवमनुष्याणाम्of the low men / menials

येwho

चand

शिल्पोपजीविनःthose who live by crafts / artisans

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

elephants (gaja)

artisans/craftsmen (śilpopajīvinaḥ)

food provisions (bhakṣya, bhojya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader’s dharma includes ensuring fair and ample provision for all who support a major enterprise—transport staff, specialized corps (like elephant units), and skilled workers—so that collective duty is fulfilled with dignity and without neglect.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports that orders were given to distribute excellent food and supplies to various groups present—logistics personnel, those connected with elephants, ordinary men, and artisans—indicating organized preparation and responsible management.