Shloka 18

Devanagari script

नीतिमान्‌ सकलां नीति विबुधाधिपतेस्तदा । अवाप्य सहदेवोडपि भ्रातृणां ववृते वशे,सहदेव भी उस समय द्रोणके रूपमें अवतीर्ण देवताओंके आचार्य बृहस्पतिसे सम्पूर्ण नीतिशास्त्रकी शिक्षा पाकर नीतिमान्‌ हो अपने भाइयोंके अधीन (अनुकूल) होकर रहते थे। नकुलने भी द्रोणाचार्यसे ही अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी शिक्षा पायी थी। वे अपने भाइयोंको बहुत ही प्रिय थे और विचित्र प्रकारसे युद्ध करनेमें उनकी बड़ी ख्याति थी। वे अतिरथी वीर कहे जाते थे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | nītimān sakalāṃ nītiṃ vibudhādhipatestadā | avāpya sahadevo 'pi bhrātṝṇāṃ vavṛte vaśe ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఆ సమయంలో సహదేవుడు దేవగురువైన బృహస్పతినుండి సమస్త నీతిశాస్త్రాన్ని నేర్చుకొని నీతిమంతుడైనప్పటికీ, వినయంతో అన్నదమ్ముల (సోదరుల) సంకల్పానికి అనుగుణంగా వారి ఆధీనంలోనే నివసించెను.

Word by Word

नीतिमान्wise in polity, prudent

सकलाम्entire, complete

नीतिम्policy, conduct, statecraft

विबुधाधिपतेःof the lord of the gods (Bṛhaspati/Indra-context)

तदाthen, at that time

अवाप्यhaving obtained

सहदेवःSahadeva

अपिalso, even

भ्रातॄणाम्of (his) brothers

ववृतेchose, accepted, remained (by choice)

वशेunder control, in subordination

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Sahadeva

Bṛhaspati (implied by vibudhādhipati)

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?

True excellence in nīti (ethical and political wisdom) is shown not only by learning but by disciplined conduct—Sahadeva’s knowledge is paired with humility and cooperative obedience toward his elders/brothers, aligning personal ability with family duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes Sahadeva’s training: he acquires complete instruction in nīti from the divine preceptor (understood as Bṛhaspati) and, despite his competence, chooses to live harmoniously under the guidance and authority of his brothers.