Shloka 11

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

Devanagari script

सिंहासनस्थो नृपतिर्धुतराष्ट्री महाबल: । अन्वास्यमान: सततं विदुरेण महात्मना

Transliteration

siṁhāsanastho nṛpatir dhṛtarāṣṭrī mahābalaḥ | anvāsyamānaḥ satataṁ vidureṇa mahātmanā ||

Translation

พระเจ้าธฤตราษฏระผู้ทรงมหาพลประทับเหนือราชบัลลังก์ และมหาตมะวิทุระเฝ้าอยู่ใกล้พระองค์เสมอ คอยปรนนิบัติและถวายคำแนะนำตามธรรม

Word by Word

सिंहासनस्थःseated on the throne

नृपतिःthe king

धृतराष्ट्रीDhṛtarāṣṭra

महाबलःof great strength

अन्वास्यमानःbeing attended (sitting near/serving)

सततम्constantly

विदुरेणby Vidura

महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Vidura

siṁhāsana (royal throne)

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?

Power (the king on the throne) is ethically incomplete without constant proximity to dharmic counsel (Vidura). The verse highlights the ideal that rulers should remain continually guided by wise, morally grounded advisors—especially when decisions can lead to widespread harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

The scene is set in the Kuru court: Dhṛtarāṣṭra is enthroned, while Vidura stays near him in continual attendance. This frames the ensuing counsel and deliberations of the Udyoga Parva, where diplomacy, warnings, and moral arguments attempt to avert the coming war.