Shloka 9

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

स तावामन्त्रयामास सर्वकामैरतन्द्रित: । बुद्ध्वा बल॑ तयोस्तत्र कनीयांसमुपह्दरे

Transliteration

sa tāv āmantrayāmāsa sarvakāmair atandritaḥ | buddhvā balaṃ tayos tatra kanīyāṃsam upahvare ||

Translation

他洞察那二人的力量与才能后，国王毫无懈怠，以一切可欲的安乐与厚礼相邀。继而在幽静之处，他趋近二人中较年轻者，欲以所许之享用与恭敬侍奉来笼络其心。此处显出一种道德张力：王者的慷慨与礼敬并非仅为款待，而是为达成与其政治与私愿相契的祭仪成果之手段。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• आमन्त्रयामास: invited / summoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√मन्त्र्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वकामैः: with all desired objects/pleasures
• सर्वकामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, diligent
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• बलम्: strength, power
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तयोः: of those two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• कनीयांसम्: the younger (one)
• कनीयांसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनीयस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपह्वरे: in a secluded place / near a recess
• उपह्वरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपह्वर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Drupada
• Upayaja (younger)
• two Brahmins/ritualists (Upayaja and his counterpart)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how power and outcomes can be pursued through ritual and patronage: a ruler’s gifts and reverence may be ethically ambiguous when used instrumentally to obtain a desired result. It invites reflection on intention (saṅkalpa) behind generosity and the tension between dharmic hospitality and goal-driven manipulation.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Drupada, having assessed the abilities of two ritual experts, invites them with lavish offerings. He then privately approaches the younger one, aiming to secure his cooperation—setting the stage for a requested rite intended to produce a son capable of killing Droṇa.