Shloka 74

Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna

The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura

Devanagari script

तस्मै स कुरुमुख्याय यथावत्‌ परिपृच्छते । वरं शशंस कन्यां तामुद्दिश्य भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! कुरुवंशके श्रेष्ठ पुरुष देवव्रतके भलीभाँति पूछनेपर वृद्ध मन्त्रीने बताया कि महाराज एक कन्यासे विवाह करना चाहते हैं

Transliteration

tasmai sa kurumukhyāya yathāvat paripṛcchate | varaṁ śaśaṁsa kanyāṁ tām uddiśya bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Khi bậc tối thượng trong dòng Kuru hỏi han đúng phép, đúng thứ tự, vị lão thần liền bày tỏ điều thỉnh cầu mà nhà vua hằng mong—nhắc đến thiếu nữ ấy, người mà đức vua muốn cưới làm vợ, hỡi bậc hùng tráng của dòng Bharata.

Word by Word

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरुमुख्याय: to the chief of the Kurus
• कुरुमुख्याय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुमुख्य
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• यथावत्: duly, properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत्

• परिपृच्छते: when (he) asks, inquires
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्रच्छ्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• वरम्: a boon; a choice (bridegroom)
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शशंस: declared, told
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस्
• Form: Perfect, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

• कन्याम्: the maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ताम्: that (one)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उद्दिश्य: having indicated; with reference to
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kuru (lineage)
• Bharata (lineage)
• the maiden (kanyā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes proper procedure and ethical decorum in royal decision-making: a senior counselor speaks only after being questioned in the right manner, and sensitive matters like marriage alliances are communicated with restraint and clarity.

What is happening in the narrative?

A leading Kuru figure (contextually Devavrata) questions an aged minister about the king’s intention; in response, the minister reveals the ‘boon’ or desired plan—specifically, the king’s wish to marry a particular maiden.