Mahabharata 9.40.14 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 40, Shloka 14

Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)

Devanagari script

देहन्यासे मनश्नक्रे तमूचु: प्रणता: प्रजा: । न गन्तव्यं महाप्राज्ञ त्राहि चास्मान्‌ महाभयात्‌

Transliteration

dehanyāse manaś cakre tam ūcuḥ praṇatāḥ prajāḥ | na gantavyaṃ mahāprājña trāhi cāsmān mahābhayāt, tāta ||

Translation

وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—جب اُس نے جسم ترک کرنے کا ارادہ کیا تو سر جھکائے ہوئے رعایا نے عرض کیا: “اے نہایت دانا! آپ ہرگز روانہ نہ ہوں۔ اے پدرِ مہربان، یہیں ٹھہریے اور دنیا پر چھائے اس عظیم خوف سے ہماری حفاظت کیجیے۔”

Word by Word

• देह: in/with regard to the body
• देह: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न्यासे: in laying down/abandonment
• न्यासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रे: made/turned (his mind)
• चक्रे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रणताः: bowed down
• प्रणताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• गन्तव्यम्: to be gone / should go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Gerundive (tavya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्राहि: protect (us)!
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Plural

• महाभयात्: from great fear
• महाभयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभय
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• तात: O dear father/sir
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• prajāḥ (the subjects/people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharma of rulership: a leader’s responsibility to protect dependents can outweigh personal withdrawal. The people appeal to the king’s wisdom and compassion, framing protection from collective fear as a moral duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the ruler decides to renounce life (dehanyāsa), the subjects prostrate and plead with him not to leave. They ask him to remain and safeguard them from a great, pervasive fear.