Shloka 64

धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः

Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue

Devanagari script

अस्त्राणि वा शरीरं वा वरयैतन्मयोद्यतम्‌ | वृणीष्व किं प्रयच्छामि तुभ्यं द्रोण वदाशु तत्‌,अतः तुम अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका ज्ञान अथवा यह शरीर माँग लो। इसे देनेके लिये मैं सदा प्रस्तुत हूँ। द्रोण! बोलो, मैं तुम्हें क्या दूँ? शीघ्र उसे कहो

Transliteration

astrāṇi vā śarīraṃ vā varayaitanmayo dyatam | vṛṇīṣva kiṃ prayacchāmi tubhyaṃ droṇa vadāśu tat ||

Translation

رام نے کہا— “یا تو اسطر (اسلحہ کی ودیا) لے لو یا یہ میرا جسم ہی مانگ لو—میں اسے دینے کے لیے تیار ہوں۔ اے درون! بتاؤ، میں تمہیں کیا دوں؟ فوراً کہو۔”

Word by Word

• {'astrāṇi': 'missile-weapons

• also the esoteric knowledge/mantras governing their use', 'śarīram': 'body

• one’s own person/life', 'vā': 'or', 'varaya': 'choose

• select (imperative)', 'etat': 'this', 'mayā': 'by me

• from me', 'udyatam': 'raised/ready

• prepared for action or offering', 'vṛṇīṣva': 'choose for yourself (imperative)', 'kim': 'what', 'prayacchāmi': 'I give

• I grant', 'tubhyam': 'to you', 'droṇa': 'Droṇa (vocative)', 'vada': 'say

• tell', 'āśu': 'quickly

• at once', 'tat': 'that (i.e., your choice/request)'}

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (speaker)
• Droṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as steadfast generosity and fidelity to one’s word: a giver, bound by honor, offers even the highest stakes—martial power or personal life—to fulfill a promised grant, underscoring ethical responsibility in teacher–student dealings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāma addresses Droṇa and invites him to choose a boon immediately—either the weapons/weapon-lore or Rāma’s own body—signaling that Rāma stands fully prepared to give whatever Droṇa asks.