Shloka 31

Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

प्रतीपरक्षितं राष्ट्र त्वां प्राप्प विनशिष्यति । स त्वमस्मद्धितार्थ वै राजा भव महामते

Transliteration

pratīparakṣitaṁ rāṣṭraṁ tvāṁ prāpya vinaśiṣyati | sa tvam asmaddhitārthaṁ vai rājā bhava mahāmate, mahārāja |

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Nếu ngài không nhận ngai vàng, vương quốc này—được gìn giữ và bảo hộ từ thời vua Pratīpa—sẽ đến tay ngài chỉ để rồi diệt vong. Vậy nên, hỡi bậc minh triết, vì phúc lợi của chúng ta, xin hãy làm vua, ôi Đại vương.”

Word by Word

• प्रतीपपरक्षितम्: protected by Pratipa
• प्रतीपपरक्षितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीप-परक्षित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राष्ट्रम्: kingdom, realm
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), —, —, —

• विनशिष्यति: will perish
• विनशिष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश्
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: that (one), so
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मत्: of us / for us
• अस्मत्: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• हितार्थः: for (our) welfare/benefit
• हितार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be (become)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महामते: O great-minded one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Pratipa
• the kingdom (rashtra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Leadership is presented as a dharmic obligation: when the welfare of the realm is at stake, refusing rightful responsibility can itself become a cause of ruin. The appeal is ethical—accept kingship not for ambition but to protect the polity and its dependents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recounts how elders and stakeholders of the kingdom press him (or the addressed prince) to accept the throne, warning that the realm safeguarded since King Pratipa will collapse if he declines. The moment frames succession as urgent statecraft and moral duty.