Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala

Devanagari script

तद्‌ ददातु भवान्‌ वित्तं यावदिच्छसि पार्थिव । त्वमी श्वरो 5स्य राज्यस्य प्राणानामपि भारत,'पृथ्वीनाथ! भरतनन्दन! आप जितना धन दान करना चाहें, करें। आप मेरे राज्य और प्राणोंके भी ईश्वर हैं!

Transliteration

tad dadātu bhavān vittaṁ yāvad icchasi pārthiva | tvam īśvaro 'sya rājyasya prāṇānām api bhārata ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“因此，大王啊，愿你随心所欲施舍财宝。婆罗多之裔啊，你是此国之主——甚至也是我性命之主。”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ददातु: let (him) give / may (he) give
• ददातु: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वित्तम्: wealth, money
• वित्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यावत्: as much as / so long as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• इच्छसि: you desire, you wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (इच्छति)
• Form: Present (Lat), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पार्थिव: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ईश्वरः: lord, master
• ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्य: of this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• राज्यस्य: of the kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्राणानाम्: of (our/my) lives, vital breaths
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• भारत: O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhārata (address to a Bharata-descendant king)
• pārthiva (the king, addressed)
• rājya (kingdom)
• prāṇa (life-breath/life)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds dāna (charitable giving) as a dharmic prerogative of a righteous king and underscores the ethical bond of allegiance: the speaker acknowledges the king’s legitimate authority over wealth, realm, and even personal life, emphasizing duty, gratitude, and ordered sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a respectful speaker addresses a king, urging him to donate as much wealth as he wishes. The speaker simultaneously declares complete submission—recognizing the king as master of the kingdom and even of the speaker’s life—thereby reinforcing royal authority and the moral context of giving.