Shloka 3

विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः

Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace

Devanagari script

तस्य कक्ष्या व्यतिक्रम्य तिस्रो द्वा:स्थैरवारित: । ततो<भ्रघनसंकाशं गिरिकूटमिवोच्छितम्‌

Transliteration

tasya kakṣyā vyatikramya tisro dvāḥ-sthair avāritaḥ | tato 'bhraghana-saṅkāśaṃ giri-kūṭam ivocchritam ||

Translation

Vượt qua các vòng thành bên ngoài, và bị lính gác chặn lại ở ba cửa liên tiếp, rồi Ngài trông thấy một vật vươn cao sừng sững—như đỉnh núi—đen đặc như một khối mây giông dày nặng.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कक्ष्याः: enclosures/outer precincts
• कक्ष्याः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• व्यतिक्रम्य: having crossed/passed beyond
• व्यतिक्रम्य: Kriya (Purvakala)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अति + क्रम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Visheshana (of द्वारः)
• Type: Adjective (Numeral)
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• द्वारः: gates/doors
• द्वारः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• स्थैः: by the stationed (guards)
• स्थैः: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: स्थ (from स्था; ‘standing/posted’)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अवारितः: unhindered/not stopped
• अवारितः: Karta (implied subject of subsequent action)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + वारित (PPP of √वृ/वार् ‘to hinder/ward off’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अभ्रघनसंकाशम्: resembling a mass of clouds
• अभ्रघनसंकाशम्: Visheshana (of गिरिकूटम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्रघन-संकाश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गिरिकूटम्: a mountain-peak/summit
• गिरिकूटम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिकूट
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उच्छितम्: lofty/raised up
• उच्छितम्: Visheshana (of गिरिकूटम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + शि (PPP उच्छित)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कक्ष्या (palace enclosures/precincts)
• द्वारस्थ (doorkeepers/gatekeepers)
• गिरिकूट (mountain-peak imagery)
• अभ्रघन (mass of clouds imagery)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and social principle that power and authority are approached through discipline and regulated access; the ordered barriers and gatekeepers symbolize restraint, hierarchy, and the seriousness of entering a royal or consequential space.

What is happening in the narrative?

A person (contextually, an approaching visitor) passes through the outer precincts but is halted at three doorways by doorkeepers; after this guarded approach, he sees a lofty, cloud-dark, mountain-like structure or presence, emphasizing grandeur and formidable atmosphere.