Shloka 2

Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)

Devanagari script

असुरेन्द्रं महाप्राज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम्‌ | बलि: पप्रच्छ दैत्येन्द्रं प्रह्मादं पितरं पितु:,असुरोंके स्वामी परम बुद्धिमान दैत्यराज प्रह्नाद सभी धर्मोके रहस्यको जाननेवाले थे। एक समय बलिने उन अपने पितामह प्रह्नादजीसे पूछा

Transliteration

asurendraṁ mahāprājñaṁ dharmāṇām āgatāgamaṁ | baliḥ papraccha daityendraṁ prahlādaṁ pitaraṁ pituḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: Bali đã hỏi Prahlāda—chúa tể các Dānava, một vua Asura đại trí, tinh thông truyền thống được thừa nhận về dharma—người cũng là cha của cha Bali. Cảnh ấy đặt nền cho một lời thỉnh vấn cung kính về các nguyên tắc hành xử chính đáng, đề cao học đạo lý hơn quyền lực hay dòng dõi.

Word by Word

• {'asurendram': 'lord of the Asuras

• chief among Asuras', 'mahāprājñam': 'greatly wise

• possessing profound intelligence', 'dharmāṇām': 'of dharma

• of righteous duties and moral law', 'āgatāgamaṁ': 'one who knows the āgama received by tradition

• versed in authoritative teachings handed down', 'baliḥ': 'Bali (the Asura king)', 'papraccha': 'asked

• inquired', 'daityendram': 'lord of the Daityas/Dānavas

• chief of the demons', 'prahlādam': 'Prahlāda (renowned devotee and wise Asura elder)', 'pitaraṁ pituḥ': 'the father of (his) father

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bali
• Prahlāda
• Asuras
• Daityas (Dānavas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical authority is grounded in wisdom and received tradition (āgama), not merely in power. Bali’s approach—seeking guidance from a learned elder—models how rulers should consult dharma-knowledge to govern and act rightly.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator introduces a dialogue setup: Bali, an Asura ruler, respectfully questions his grandfather Prahlāda, famed for intelligence and knowledge of dharma. This signals the beginning of an instructive exchange on righteous conduct.