Shloka 34

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 73: Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dispute, Confinement in the Well, and Yayāti’s Rescue

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धर्मिष्ठतां वव्रे राज्याच्चास्खलनं तथा । शकुन्तला पौरवाणां दुष्पन्तहितकाम्यया,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तब शकुन्तलाने दुष्यन्तके हितकी इच्छासे यह वर माँगा कि पुरुवंशी नरेश सदा धर्ममें स्थिर रहें और वे कभी राज्यसे भ्रष्ट न हों

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato dharmiṣṭhatāṁ vavre rājyāc cāskhalanaṁ tathā | Śakuntalā Pauravāṇāṁ Duṣyanta-hita-kāmyayā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Bấy giờ Śakuntalā, mong điều lành cho Duṣyanta, đã xin ân phúc này: rằng các bậc quân vương thuộc dòng Paurava luôn vững bền trong dharma, và không bao giờ trượt ngã hay bị tước khỏi vương quyền.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• धर्मिष्ठताम्: steadfastness in dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मिष्ठताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मिष्ठता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वव्रे: chose/asked (as a boon)
• वव्रे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• राज्यात्: from the kingdom/from sovereignty
• राज्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

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

• अस्खलनम्: non-falling; not slipping (from it)
• अस्खलनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्खलन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• शकुन्तला: Śakuntalā
• शकुन्तला: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन्तला
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पौरवाणाम्: of the Pauravas (Puru’s descendants)
• पौरवाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• दुष्पन्त: of Duṣyanta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्पन्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• हित: welfare/good
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• काम्यया: desiring (with the desire)
• काम्यया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śakuntalā
• Duṣyanta
• Pauravas (descendants of Puru)
• rājya (sovereignty/kingship)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Rulership is portrayed as secure and meaningful only when grounded in dharma; the ideal boon is not mere power but unwavering righteousness and stability in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakuntalā, thinking of Duṣyanta’s good, requests a boon that the Paurava kings remain devoted to dharma and never lose their kingdom—linking dynastic continuity with ethical steadfastness.