Shloka 8

Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna

The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura

Devanagari script

वीतशोकभयाबाधा: सुखस्वप्ननिबोधना: । पति भारत गोप्तारं समपद्यन्त भूमिपा:,जनमेजय! जब सब राजाओंने शान्तनुको अपना स्वामी तथा रक्षक बना लिया, तब किसीको शोक, भय और मानसिक संताप नहीं रहा। सब लोग सुखसे सोने और जागने लगे

Transliteration

vītaśokabhayābādhāḥ sukhasvapnanibodhanāḥ | patiṃ bhārata goptāraṃ samapadyanta bhūmipāḥ, janamejaya |

Translation

โอ้ชนเมชยะ! เมื่อบรรดากษัตริย์ทั้งปวงยอมรับพระศานตนุเป็นเจ้านายและผู้พิทักษ์วงศ์ภารตะแล้ว ก็ปราศจากโศก ปราศจากความหวาดกลัว และไร้ความทุกข์ใจ ผู้คนหลับและตื่นอย่างผาสุก

Word by Word

वीतशोकभयाबाधाःfree from grief, fear, and affliction

सुखस्वप्ननिबोधनाḥhaving pleasant sleep and awakening

पतिlord, master

भारतO Bharata

गोप्तारम्protector

समपद्यन्तthey accepted / resorted to

भूमिपाःkings (protectors of the earth)

जनमेजयO Janamejaya

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Śāntanu

Bhūmipāḥ (kings/rulers)

Bhārata (Bharata lineage/people)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic principle of kingship: when a legitimate and protective ruler is accepted, society becomes free from fear and distress. Good governance is measured by the subjects’ security and peace of mind—symbolized by sleeping and waking in comfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that the regional kings acknowledged Śāntanu as their lord and guardian. With his protection established, public life stabilized and people experienced relief from grief, fear, and mental agitation.