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Shloka 17

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

वायुदेव उवाच एवमुक्ते महाराज द्रोणेनामिततेजसा । व्याजहार ततो वाक्‍्यं विदुर: सत्यसड्भर: । पितुर्वदनमन्वीक्ष्य परिवृत्य च धर्मवित्‌,भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण कहते हैं--महाराज! अमित-तेजस्वी द्रोणाचार्यके इस प्रकार कहनेपर सत्यप्रतिज्ञ धर्मज्ञ विदुरने ज्येष्ठ पिता भीष्मकी ओर घूमकर उनके मुँहकी ओर देखते हुए इस प्रकार कहा

vāyudeva uvāca | evam ukte mahārāja droṇenāmitatejasā | vyājahāra tato vākyaṃ viduraḥ satyasaṅdharaḥ | pitur vadanaṃ anvīkṣya parivṛtya ca dharmavit |

Thần Gió nói: “Tâu Đại vương, khi Droṇācārya, bậc uy lực rực rỡ khôn lường, đã nói như thế, thì Vidura—người kiên định với chân thật và tinh tường về dharma—liền cất lời trước hội chúng. Ông quay về phía bậc trưởng phụ Bhīṣma, nhìn thẳng dung nhan ngài, rồi nói, đặt nền trên bổn phận đạo lý và lời thề chân chính.”

[{'term''evam ukte', 'definition': 'when this had been said
[{'term':
upon such words being spoken'}, {'term''mahārāja', 'definition': 'O great king (vocative address)'}, {'term': 'droṇena', 'definition': 'by Droṇa (Droṇācārya)'}, {'term': 'amita-tejasā', 'definition': 'of immeasurable splendor/energy
upon such words being spoken'}, {'term':
exceedingly powerful'}, {'term''vyājahāra', 'definition': 'spoke
exceedingly powerful'}, {'term':
addressed'}, {'term''tataḥ', 'definition': 'then
addressed'}, {'term':
thereafter'}, {'term''vākyaṃ', 'definition': 'speech
thereafter'}, {'term':
words'}, {'term''viduraḥ', 'definition': 'Vidura (renowned for counsel and righteousness)'}, {'term': 'satya-saṅdharaḥ', 'definition': 'one who upholds truth
words'}, {'term':
true to his vow/commitment'}, {'term''pituḥ', 'definition': 'of the father/elder sire (here, the revered elder Bhīṣma)'}, {'term': 'vadanaṃ', 'definition': 'face
true to his vow/commitment'}, {'term':
mouth'}, {'term''anvīkṣya', 'definition': 'having looked at
mouth'}, {'term':
observing attentively'}, {'term''parivṛtya', 'definition': 'turning around
observing attentively'}, {'term':
turning toward'}, {'term''dharmavit', 'definition': 'knower of dharma
turning toward'}, {'term':

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva
D
Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
V
Vidura
B
Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

The verse foregrounds dharmic speech: truthful counsel (satya) offered with discernment (dharmavit) and due regard for elders (turning to Bhīṣma). It frames ethical deliberation as attentive, respectful, and anchored in integrity.

After Droṇācārya has spoken, Vidura begins his reply. He physically turns toward the senior authority Bhīṣma, studies his expression, and then addresses the gathering—signaling that his forthcoming words are meant as principled guidance within the tense political debate.