Shloka 5

Śiśupāla-nigraha-prastāva: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Conciliation and Bhīṣma’s Defense of Kṛṣṇa

Book 2, Chapter 35

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यभोज्याधिकारेषु दःशासनमयोजयत्‌ | परिग्रहे ब्राह्मणानामश्च॒त्थामानमुक्तवान्‌

Transliteration

bhakṣya-bhojyādhikāreṣu duḥśāsanam ayojayat | parigrahe brāhmaṇānām aśvatthāmānam uktavān |

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—భక్ష్యభోజ్య పదార్థాల సంరక్షణ, పర్యవేక్షణ, పంపిణీ మరియు వడ్డింపుల అధికారాన్ని దుఃశాసనునికి నియమించాడు. బ్రాహ్మణుల ఆతిథ్య-సత్కారాల బాధ్యతను అశ్వత్థామునికి అప్పగించాడు.

Word by Word

• भक्ष्यभोज्याधिकारेषु: in the matters/charge of eatables and food (distribution/management)
• भक्ष्यभोज्याधिकारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य-भोज्य-अधिकार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• दुःशासनम्: Duhshasana
• दुःशासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अयोजयत्: appointed/assigned
• अयोजयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परिग्रहे: in the reception/entertainment (duty of welcoming)
• परिग्रहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अश्वत्थामानम्: Ashvatthaman
• अश्वत्थामानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उक्तवान्: having said / he said (appointed by saying)
• उक्तवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्तवतुँ (past active participle)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duḥśāsana
• Aśvatthāmā
• Brāhmaṇas
• bhakṣya-bhojya (food provisions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharma in governance: material resources (food and service) must be organized responsibly, and honoring brāhmaṇas through proper reception is treated as a distinct ethical duty. Delegation is not merely administrative; it reflects the ruler’s commitment to social and ritual obligations.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the context of a royal arrangement, specific duties are assigned: Duḥśāsana is put in charge of managing and serving food provisions, while Aśvatthāmā is tasked with welcoming and honoring the brāhmaṇas.