Shloka 15

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest

Devanagari script

कार्य यत्नेन शत्रूणां स्वराज्यं रक्षता स्वयम्‌ । न च हिंस्यो5भ्युपगत: सामन्तो वृद्धिमिच्छता

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

kāryaṃ yatnena śatrūṇāṃ svarājyaṃ rakṣatā svayam |

na ca hiṃsyo 'bhyupagataḥ sāmanto vṛddhim icchatā ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra nói: “Vị vua gìn giữ quốc độ của mình phải, với nỗ lực tỉnh thức, ứng xử đúng phép với kẻ thù. Nhưng bậc quân vương cầu thịnh vượng cho chính mình thì tuyệt đối không được làm hại một chư hầu láng giềng đã đến xin nương tựa và quy phục.”

Word by Word

• कार्यः: to be done / should be done
• कार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृ + यत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शत्रूणाम्: of enemies
• शत्रूणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्वराज्यम्: one's own kingdom
• स्वराज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षता: by (one) protecting
• रक्षता: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• हिंस्यः: to be harmed / to be killed
• हिंस्यः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंस्य (हिंस् + य)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्युपगतः: who has come (for refuge) / approached
• अभ्युपगतः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्युपगम् (उप + गम्, अभ्य्-उप-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सामन्तः: vassal / neighboring chief
• सामन्तः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृद्धिम्: growth, prosperity
• वृद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• śatru (enemies)
• sāmanta (feudatory/neighboring chief)
• svarājya (one’s own kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches rājadharma: while a king must actively safeguard his realm against enemies, he must not harm a sāmanta who has approached in submission/refuge; protecting the surrendered is presented as a policy that also supports the ruler’s long-term prosperity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra articulates a principle of governance and ethical statecraft, contrasting necessary vigilance toward enemies with the inviolability of one who has come over seeking protection or allegiance.