Shloka 1

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

Devanagari script

औपनआक्ात छा अर: अष्टचत्वारिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: द्रोणाचार्य

Transliteration

vāyudeva uvāca | bhīṣmeṇokte tato droṇo duryodhanam abhāṣata | madhye nṛpāṇāṁ bhadraṁ te vacanaṁ vacanakṣamaḥ ||

Translation

Thần Vāyudeva nói: Khi Bhīṣma đã dứt lời, Droṇa—bậc lão sư tinh thông việc khuyên răn—đứng giữa hội các vua mà nói với Duryodhana: “Nguyện bệ hạ được an lành,” rồi tiếp tục thốt ra những lời đáng để cân nhắc nghị luận. Cảnh ấy cho thấy các bậc trưởng lão cố dùng lý lẽ mà dẫn dắt người cầm quyền trong khoảnh khắc then chốt trước chiến tranh.

Word by Word

• भीष्मेण: by Bhīṣma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उक्ते: when (it was) said / after (it was) spoken
• उक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Neuter, Locative, Singular

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• द्रोणः: Droṇa
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभाषत: spoke (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नृपाणाम्: of the kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भद्रम्: welfare; auspiciousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ते: to you / for you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech; words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• वचनक्षमः: capable in speech / competent to speak
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वचन-क्षम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Bhīṣma
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Duryodhana
• kings (nṛpāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a charged political assembly, a ruler should be guided by measured, welfare-oriented counsel from elders; the verse highlights the ethical ideal of reasoned speech (vacana) offered for the king’s good rather than for provocation.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Bhīṣma concludes his remarks, Droṇa takes the floor in the royal gathering and addresses Duryodhana, beginning with a benediction (“bhadraṁ te”) and preparing to offer counsel amid the assembled kings.