Shloka 15

धृतराष्ट्र-सेवा, राज्य-कार्य-विभागः

Service to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Allocation of State Duties

Devanagari script

सहदेवं समीपस्थं नित्यमेव समादिशत्‌ | तेन गोप्यो हि नृपति: सर्वावस्थो विशाम्पते

Transliteration

sahadevaṃ samīpasthaṃ nityam eva samādiśat | tena gopyo hi nṛpatiḥ sarvāvastho viśāmpate prajānātha ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—మహారాజు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు తన సమీపంలో నిలిచిన సహదేవునికి నిత్యమూ ఆజ్ఞాపించెను—“నా పక్కనే సదా ఉండుము” అని. అతని ద్వారానే రాజు ప్రతి స్థితిలో, ప్రతి సందర్భంలో రక్షింపబడెను—ఓ ప్రజానాథా, ఓ విశాంపతే—రాజసురక్షలో ఎట్టి నిర్లక్ష్యమూ కలుగకుండునట్లు.

Word by Word

• सहदेवम्: Sahadeva (as object)
• सहदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समीपस्थम्: standing nearby, close at hand
• समीपस्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीपस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समादिशत्: ordered, commanded
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√दिश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गोप्यः: to be guarded / to be protected
• गोप्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोप्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वावस्थः: in all conditions / at all times
• सर्वावस्थः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वावस्था
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विशाम्: of the people/subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Sahadeva
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• nṛpati (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s dharma includes ensuring constant protection and orderly administration by assigning trusted, capable aides; loyal service (like Sahadeva’s) becomes an ethical instrument for safeguarding the realm through safeguarding the ruler.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira keeps Sahadeva close and repeatedly instructs him to remain nearby, entrusting him with the king’s protection in every circumstance.