Shloka 18

धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court

Devanagari script

विहारयात्रासु पुन: कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिर: । सर्वान्‌ कामान्‌ महातेजा: प्रददावम्बिकासुते

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

vihārayātrāsu punaḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |

sarvān kāmān mahātejāḥ pradadāv ambikāsute ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Hết lần này đến lần khác, vào những dịp du ngoạn và lên đường, Yudhiṣṭhira—vị minh quân của dòng Kuru—đều chu cấp cho con trai của Ambikā (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) mọi sự tiện nghi và mọi vật dụng theo ý muốn. Cách hành xử ấy biểu lộ một đạo lý chăm nom có chủ ý: kính trọng bậc trưởng thượng và gìn giữ phẩm giá của họ, dẫu chiến tranh đã tàn phá tất cả.

Word by Word

• विहारयात्रासु: in (times of) recreation and journeys
• विहारयात्रासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार-यात्रा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• पुनः: again / moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• कुरुराजः: the king of the Kurus
• कुरुराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कामान्: desires / wished-for things
• कामान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महातेजाः: the mighty/illustrious one
• महातेजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रददौ: gave / granted
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (प्र+दा)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• अम्बिकासुते: to Ambikā’s son (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• अम्बिकासुते: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिकासुत
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Ambikā
• Kuru (dynasty/realm)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even after conflict, dharma requires honoring elders and ensuring their welfare. Yudhiṣṭhira’s generosity toward Dhṛtarāṣṭra models restraint, compassion, and the king’s duty to protect the dignity of dependents and seniors.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Āśramavāsika context, the text describes Yudhiṣṭhira repeatedly arranging comforts for the blind elder-king Dhṛtarāṣṭra during outings and journeys, showing continued service and respectful care within the royal household.