Shloka 14

Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris

Udyoga-parva 94

Devanagari script

आज्ञा तव हि राजेन्द्र कार्या पुत्रै: सहान्वयै: । हित॑ं बलवदप्येषां तिष्ठतां तव शासने

Transliteration

ājñā tava hi rājendra kāryā putraiḥ sahānvayaiḥ | hitaṃ balavad apy eṣāṃ tiṣṭhatāṃ tava śāsane ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Tâu Rajendra, mệnh lệnh của ngài ắt phải được các vương tử cùng tùy tùng thi hành. Dẫu họ tự cho mình hùng mạnh, phúc lợi chân thật của họ vẫn nằm ở chỗ ở dưới quyền cai trị và kỷ cương của ngài.”

Word by Word

• आज्ञा: command, order
• आज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• हि: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कार्या: to be done, should be carried out
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्रैः: by the sons
• पुत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• अन्वयैः: with followers/retinue
• अन्वयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हितम्: welfare, benefit
• हितम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• बलवत्: great, strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• एषाम्: of these (of them)
• एषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• तिष्ठताम्: let them remain/stand
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Imperative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• शासने: in (your) rule/command
• शासने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• rājendra (the king addressed)
• the king’s sons (putrāḥ)
• followers/retainers (anvayāḥ)
• royal command (ājñā)
• rule/governance (śāsana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes राजधर्म (the ethics of kingship): the king’s sons and their supporters should submit to lawful authority, because their lasting welfare (hita) depends on disciplined life under proper शासन (rule), not on mere confidence in strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana, narrating the events of the Udyoga Parva, conveys a counsel addressed to the king (rājendra): the princes, along with their faction, should follow the king’s orders and remain within his governance, implying that political stability and moral order require obedience to rightful command.