Shloka 57

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

Devanagari script

गतेषु तेषु वीरेषु धौम्यो5थ जपतां वर: । अग्निहोत्राण्युपादाय पाउ्चालानभ्यगच्छत,उन पाण्डव वीरोंके चले जानेपर जपयज्ञ करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ धौम्यजी उस अनग्निहोत्रसम्बन्धी अग्निको साथ लेकर पांचालदेशमें चले गये

Transliteration

gateṣu teṣu vīreṣu dhaumyo ’tha japatāṃ varaḥ | agnihotrāṇy upādāya pāñcālān abhyagacchat ||

Translation

جب وہ بہادر روانہ ہو گئے تو جپ کرنے والوں میں افضل دھومیہ نے اگنی ہوترا کی مقدّس آگیں ساتھ لے کر پانچال دیس کی طرف کوچ کیا۔

Word by Word

गतेषुwhen (they) had gone

तेषुin/among those

वीरेषुheroes

धौम्यःDhaumya

अथthen

जपताम्of those who recite (perform japa)

वरःthe best

अग्निहोत्राणिagnihotra (sacred fires/rites)

उपादायhaving taken up/carrying

पाञ्चालान्the Panchalas (Panchala country/people)

अभ्यगच्छत्went to/approached

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhaumya

Pāñcāla

Agnihotra (sacred fire/rite)

the departed heroes (implied: the Pāṇḍavas)

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?

Even when circumstances force separation and concealment, dharma is preserved through steadfast practice: the sacred fires and daily rites are treated as living responsibilities that must be protected and continued.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the heroes have left, Dhaumya, their priest, gathers the Agnihotra fires/implements and travels to the Pāñcāla region, indicating a relocation of the ritual household and continued religious observance alongside the unfolding exile.