Shloka 14

Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ

Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī

Devanagari script

राजेन्द्र! तुम्हारे पिता राजा पाण्डुने भी धृतराष्ट्रको गुरुके समान मानकर शिष्यभावसे इनकी सेवा की थी ।। क्रतुभिर्दक्षिणावद्धी रत्नपर्वतशोभितै: । महद्विरिष्ट गौर्भुक्ता प्रजाश्न परिपालिता:

Transliteration

rājendra! tava pitā rājā pāṇḍur api dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ guru-samam manyamānaḥ śiṣya-bhāvena tasya sevāṃ cakāra. kratubhir dakṣiṇāvaddhī ratna-parvata-śobhitaiḥ, mahad-viṣṭiḥ go-bhuktaḥ, prajāś ca paripālitāḥ.

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi bậc vương giả tối thượng! Phụ vương của ngài, vua Pāṇḍu, cũng kính trọng Dhṛtarāṣṭra như kính thầy, và phụng sự với lòng khiêm cung của người đệ tử. Nhờ những đại tế lễ dồi dào lễ vật dâng tặng (dakṣiṇā), lại được tô điểm bằng những ‘núi’ châu báu rực rỡ, người đạt được phú quý lớn lao; của cải được nâng đỡ bởi đàn gia súc, và muôn dân dưới quyền đều được che chở, trị vì đúng đạo.”

Word by Word

• क्रतुभिः: by sacrifices/rites
• क्रतुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• दक्षिणावत्भिः: endowed with sacrificial fees (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणावत्भिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणावत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रत्नपर्वतशोभितैः: adorned with mountains of jewels
• रत्नपर्वतशोभितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नपर्वतशोभित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इष्टिः: sacrificial offering/rite (iṣṭi)
• इष्टिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गौः: cow; cattle
• गौः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भुक्ता: enjoyed/consumed; (having been) used
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Perfective (Past participle), Singular

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

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

• परिपालिता: protected/ruled
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+पाल्
• Form: Perfective (Past participle), Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍu
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• prajā (subjects/people)
• kratū (sacrifices)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts/fees)
• ratna (jewels)
• go (cattle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal dharma includes humility and service: even a powerful king like Pāṇḍu models ethical conduct by honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra as a guru and serving him with a disciple’s attitude, while also using prosperity (from sacrifice, gifts, cattle-wealth) for the protection of subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reminds the addressed king that Pāṇḍu treated Dhṛtarāṣṭra with reverence and service. The verse also summarizes Pāṇḍu’s flourishing rule—marked by well-endowed sacrifices, abundant wealth, and careful protection of the people.