Shloka 8

Devanagari script

यथाअज्ञापयसे दिद्वंस्त्वं हि नः परमो गुरु: । यच्चान्यदपि कर्तव्यं तद्‌ विधत्स्व महामते,“विद्वन! आप जैसी आज्ञा दें, वही हमें मान्य है; क्योंकि आप हमारे परम गुरु हैं। महामते! इसके सिवा और भी जो कुछ हमारा कर्तव्य हो, वह हमें बताइये”

Transliteration

yathājñāpayase didvaṁs tvaṁ hi naḥ paramo guruḥ | yac cānyad api kartavyaṁ tad vidhatsva mahāmate ||

Translation

“ఓ విద్వన్మహాశయా! మీరు ఆజ్ఞాపించినట్లే మేము చేస్తాము; ఎందుకంటే మీరు మా పరమ గురువు. ఓ మహామతీ! ఇంకా మా కర్తవ్యమై మిగిలినదేదైనా ఉంటే, దానిని నిర్ణయించి మాకు ఉపదేశించండి.”

Word by Word

यथाas, in whatever manner

आज्ञापयसेyou आदेश/आज्ञा देते हो (you command)

विद्वन्O learned one

त्वम्you

हिindeed, for

नःof us, our

परमःsupreme, highest

गुरुःteacher, preceptor

यत्whatever (that which)

चand

अन्यत्other, further

अपिalso, even

कर्तव्यम्to be done; duty

तत्that

विधत्स्वdo/arrange/ordain (tell/decide)

महामतेO great-minded one

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

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 upholds dharma through disciplined obedience to rightful guidance: when a truly wise and authoritative counselor is present, one should align action with that counsel and seek clarity about remaining duties rather than act from impulse or pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura addresses a respected ‘learned one’ as the supreme guide, affirming that the group will follow his command and requesting further instruction about any additional obligations—framing the next course of action as a matter of duty under wise direction.