Shloka 49

धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः

Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue

Devanagari script

अश्वृत्थामैव बालो<यं तस्मान्नाम्ना भविष्यति । सुतेन तेन सुप्रीतो भारद्वाजस्ततो5भवत्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Aśvatthāmaiva bālo ’yaṃ tasmān nāmnā bhaviṣyati | sutena tena suprīto Bhāradvājas tato ’bhavat ||

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：“此子确将名为阿湿婆他摩，因此当以此为名。”听闻婴儿之啼声如马嘶般震彻四方，婆罗堕阇之子德罗那对这位儿子心中大悦。

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थामा: Ashvatthaman (name)
• अश्वत्थामा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• बालः: boy/child
• बालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भविष्यति: will be/will become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुतेन: by/with (his) son
• सुतेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तेन: by him/with that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुप्रीतः: very pleased
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारद्वाजः: Bharadvaja
• भारद्वाजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• अभवत्: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvatthāmā
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja-putra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how identity in epic culture is shaped by observable signs and communal recognition: a name is not merely a label but a marker of perceived nature and future reputation, while parental joy is framed as a dharmic affirmation of lineage and continuity.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that the child will be known as Aśvatthāmā, a name linked to the horse-like resonance of his cry; as a result, Droṇa (called ‘Bhāradvāja’s son’) becomes very pleased with his newborn son.